TREASURY

Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties

Annette Brooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from  (a) brewers and  (b) owners of public houses on the effects of alcohol duty on their businesses; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Treasury Ministers and officials receive representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.

Banks: Finance

David Howarth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1630W, on banks: Government assistance, what the discount rates and maturities are of the Treasury Bills issued in accordance with paragraph 6.9 of the Debt and Reserves Management Report 2008-09 in order to make finance available to the Bank of England to purchase corporate assets from banks.

Ian Pearson: As announced by the Debt Management Office (DMO) in the "DMO financing remit: impact of the financial intervention package: 19 January 2009", the financing to support the asset purchase facility will initially be raised by the DMO through a combination of Treasury bill sales and cash management operations.
	Gradually, the cash management operations will be replaced by funding raised through Treasury bill issuance. The Treasury bills that will be issued to fund the asset purchase facility will be issued consistent with the Debt Management Office's cash management objective as set out in paragraph 6.5 of the "Debt and reserves management report" for 2008-09.

Building Societies: Finance

Danny Alexander: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what consideration his Department has given to modifying the allocation of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme levies to reflect the differences in levels of risk associated with bank and building society business models;
	(2)  what recent assessment he has made of whether the Financial Services Compensation Scheme levies paid by  (a) banks and  (b) building societies reflect the relative risk associated with the two business models;
	(3)  what criteria are used to assess the level of risk in  (a) banks and  (b) building society business models in determining Financial Services Compensation Scheme levies for each.

Ian Pearson: The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) levies are statutory levies. They are allocated to classes of levy payers and apportioned within those classes in accordance with rules made by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.

Chelsea Building Society

John Butterfill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Chelsea Building Society approached the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for consent to establish a banking subsidiary in Guernsey; on what dates meetings were held between the building society and the FSA; what matters were discussed at each such meeting; what conditions the FSA attached to the establishment of the subsidiary; and which of these conditions provided for protection of depositors.

Ian Pearson: The matters raised in this question are the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority, whose day to day operations are independent from Government control and influence.

Credit: Interest Rates

Ashok Kumar: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government is taking to ensure that interest rates charged by high street credit schemes are reasonable.

Gareth Thomas: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government introduced reforms in statutory instruments in 2005 and in the Consumer Credit Act 2006 to strengthen the regulation of consumer credit. These ensure that consumers are given clear and transparent information to enable them to shop around with confidence and that the OFT can take targeted and effective enforcement action against rogue lenders. The Act also replaced previous provisions which gave consumers a right to challenge extortionate credit bargains with a new wide-ranging right for consumers to challenge before the courts any aspect of their relationship with a lender which is unfair. This could include, but is not limited to, the level of interest charged.
	The Government recently held a summit with the credit card industry on risk based re-pricing - the practice that was leading to some consumers facing significant interest rate increases at short notice. As a result of this, the credit card industry agreed a statement of principles for risk based re-pricing. This ensures that consumers are fairly treated when a card lender seeks to increase their individual interest rate on the basis that their risk profile has deteriorated. These principles come into force on 1 January 2009.

Departmental Buildings

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the location is of each office occupied by  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies which has been (i) newly occupied and (ii) refurbished in the last 24 months; and what the floor area in square metres is of each.

Angela Eagle: No new occupations or refurbishments have been undertaken in the last 24 months.

EU Countries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his European counterparts he has met in the last two months.

Ian Pearson: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Gold and Foreign Exchange Reserves

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much gold the Government has sold in each year since 1997.

Ian Pearson: The Government undertook a gold sales programme from 1999 to 2002. In that time, 395 tonnes of gold have been sold: 75 tonnes in 1999; 150 tonnes in 2000; 130 tonnes in 2001; and 40 tonnes in 2002. The Government have not conducted an official gold sales programme since 2002.

Jobcentre Plus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many visits on official business he has made to Jobcentre Plus offices in the last 12 months.

Ian Pearson: Treasury Ministers' official duties entail visits throughout the United Kingdom.

Mortgage Interest Deferral Scheme

Paul Burstow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the number of households likely to  (a) qualify for and  (b) take up the mortgage interest deferral scheme; and what his estimate is of the cost of the scheme in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2010.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	As part of a wider package of real help for homeowners, the Homeowner Mortgage Support Scheme, will enable ordinary hard-working households that experience a redundancy or significant loss of income to reduce their monthly payments to a more manageable level, by deferring a proportion of the interest payments on their mortgage for up to two years. The Government will guarantee to lenders they will get the payments back in return for them participating in the scheme.
	Homeowners remain responsible for repaying the mortgage in the long term but the scheme will result in more affordable monthly payments. This will give them the breathing space they need to get their finances back on track, and help ensure they can stay in their homes.
	This is a consumer and lender-led scheme, supported by a Government guarantee. The Government want to see this scheme help as many struggling homeowners as possible. We will publish a full impact assessment when the scheme description has been finalised.

Tax Credits: Conditions of Employment

Alan Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance his Department provides to employers on whether employees on extended periods of sabbatical leave on part pay are eligible for tax credits.

Stephen Timms: Entitlement to Working Tax Credit (WTC) is dependent upon whether the claimant meets the condition of being in qualifying remunerative work. Entitlement during a period of paid sabbatical work would depend on the circumstances in the individual case.
	Guidance for customers with changing working patterns is available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/changes-work.htm

UK Financial Investments: Manpower

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many staff have been employed by UK Financial Investments Ltd in salary bands of  (a) up to £25,000,  (b) £25,000 to £50,000,  (c) £50,000 to £75,000,  (d) £75,000 to £100,000 and  (e) over £100,000;
	(2)  what the estimated cost of remuneration for staff at UK Financial Investments Ltd, including guaranteed bonuses and pension contributions will be in the next 12 months;
	(3)  what the  (a) salary and  (b) total remuneration and title of post is of each of the five highest paid employees of UK Financial Investments Ltd;
	(4)  what consultancy arrangements have been entered into by  (a) his Department and  (b) UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI) in connection with UKFI's activities; and what the (i) cost and (ii) nature of work under each contract is;
	(5)  how much the establishment of UK Financial Investments Ltd has cost to date, broken down by category of expenditure.

Ian Pearson: UKFI was established on 3 November 2008 under the Companies Act, with HM Treasury as sole shareholder. The UKFI board is responsible for governing the company's activities and will, by the end of February 2009, recommend to the Treasury a budget and funding plan appropriate to ensure the fulfilment of UKFI's remit.
	The company's annual report and audited accounts will be laid before Parliament.
	Additionally, the chairman and chief executive of the company will, as required, attend meetings of relevant parliamentary committees for scrutiny and answer questions.

Valuation Office: Rent Service

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) will be permitted to access data previously available to the Rent Service upon the transfer of the Rent Service's functions to the VOA.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps) on 20 November 2008,  Official Report, column 776W, regarding Valuation Office Reorganisation.

VAT

Robert Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to businesses of re-pricing products as a result of the reduction in value added tax to 15 per cent.

Stephen Timms: Estimated costs to businesses from re-pricing products are published in the impact assessment of changes to the standard rate of VAT. This is available on the HM Treasury website.

VAT

Robert Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure his Department incurred in promulgating the 15 per cent. value added tax rate.

Stephen Timms: HMRC sent a summary guide on dealing with the temporary reduction in the VAT rate to all 2 million VAT registered businesses immediately after pre-Budget report 2008. More detailed guidance was produced and published on the HMRC website. Additional staff were made available in the National Advice Service to answer questions on the rate change. A full evaluation of all the associated costs is not readily available.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Official Cars

Bob Spink: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what cars are  (a) owned,  (b) leased,  (c) hired and  (d) otherwise regularly used by the House, broken down by cubic capacity of engine.

Nick Harvey: No cars are owned, leased or hired on a regular basis. Cars with drivers are hired for the Speaker and Deputy Speakers in connection with their official duties. Taxi services are regularly used for print service deliveries and under certain conditions, for example when there are late night sittings, by House officials and staff.

Parliament: Buildings

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the  (a) specifications and  (b) cost of (i) carpets, (ii) office furniture, (iii) building materials and (iv) light fittings in (A) 1 Parliament Street and (B) Portcullis House are.

Nick Harvey: The information requested is as follows:
	 No. 1 Parliament street
	The refurbishment of the buildings that now form No. 1 Parliament street was carried out by the Property Services Agency of the Department of the Environment. Details of the costs and specification are not available.
	The most recent works carried out were the refurbishment of the Bellamy's Bar and Clubroom and security works at a cost of £0.86 million. Day-to-day building and furniture maintenance and minor improvements costs in 2007-08 were £0.6 million.
	 Portcullis House
	The final cost of the construction and fitting out of Portcullis House was £23 5 million (including VAT and fees). This figure includes the loose office furniture contracts which cost £1.7 million. The cost of the light fittings cannot be readily identified as they were included in a number of contracts.
	The Accommodation and Works Committee's reports recommended a long life building, which in terms of British Standards meant 150 years. This was the basis of the specifications for the individual contracts, which in turn were based on BSI or DIN standards or other appropriate industry standards.
	Since the building was completed the only major works have been the replacement of the escalators at a cost of £0.45 million, and improvements to the fire alarm system to reduce the number of false alarms at £0.2 million. Day-to-day building and furnishing maintenance and minor replacement costs in 2007-08 were £0.9 million.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Baseball: World Cup 2009

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps  (a) he and  (b) Sport England have taken to ensure that the UK baseball team can compete in the 2009 World Cup; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 26 January 2009
	The issue of the GB national baseball team competing in the 2009 World Cup is a matter for UK Sport not Sport England, as Sport England does not lead or fund baseball's elite programme.
	On March 10, 2008 the Secretary of State approved Sport England's outline strategy to focus resources on building the foundations of sporting success through the creation of a world leading community sports system. One of the key outcomes of this system is the development of well-defined, appropriate talent support systems to underpin NGB—national governing body—elite programmes, resulting in more talented performers moving through to world class programmes and success.
	Sport England has recently announced four year funding awards to 46 national governing bodies, including the sports of baseball and softball. Sport England has advised that they will be meeting with the sport imminently to discuss the award, which interventions will be funded and to agree how the sport will contribute to Sport England's strategic outcomes, such as the above, over the next four years.
	UK Sport has advised that its current investment strategy does not provide funding to baseball and has therefore made no estimate of the cost of sending a British baseball team to the final 2008 Olympics qualification event in Taiwan. The sport will not receive world class funding in the future as it is not on the competition programme for London 2012.

Departmental Buildings

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on works and refurbishment to offices allocated to Ministers in departmental buildings in the last 12 months.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department has spent £40,625 plus VAT on works and refurbishments to offices allocated to ministers in the last 12 months. This cost also includes work to offices occupied by private office staff.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which external organisations his Department have engaged to provide training for fast stream civil service staff in the last three years; and how many civil servants in his Department have participated in provision of training for external organisations in that period.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the last three years the National School of Government (NSG) have provided specific training for fast stream staff in DCMS.
	Fast stream staff are also entitled to, apply for and attend, other learning and development interventions open to all staff in DCMS. Many of these are provided by external organisations but they are not exclusive to fast stream civil service staff.
	Information is not available to say how many civil servants in DCMS have participated in the provision of training for external organisations in the last three years.

Film: Licensing

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on what grounds local licensing authorities may  (a) amend the classification of a film classified by the British Board for Film Classification and  (b) withhold a licence for a film to be shown.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The only mandatory requirement imposed by the Licensing Act 2003 is the imposition of a condition to be included in the premises licence or club premises certificate requiring the admission of children to films to be restricted in accordance with the film classification given by the BBFC.
	However, licensing authorities must also take into account the guidance issued under the Licensing Act which recommends that they should not duplicate the effort underpinning the BBFC's classification, and only classify films themselves if there are good reasons for doing so.
	The guidance is clear that children should not be allowed access to regulated entertainment 'of a clearly adult or sexual nature' and draws the licensing authorities' attention to the BBFC's classification scheme. The guidance recommends that:
	(i) where the licensing authority itself is to make recommendations on the admission of children, the venue operator must submit the film to the licensing authority at least 28 days before it is to be shown to allow the licensing authority time to classify the film and ensure that the licence holder adheres to its own age restrictions;
	(ii) the BBFC's classification shall be shown on screen for at least five seconds before the film (or any trailers);
	(iii) where a licensing authority recommends restriction of admission of children, visible notices should be displayed both inside and outside the venue.
	 (b) A licence or certificate for a film to be shown could be revoked or withdrawn on an application for review by an interested party (e.g. local resident or business) or responsible authority (e.g. police or local body with responsibility for child welfare) if the licence or certificate owner breached the mandatory or any additional conditions or acted in a way that contravened the objectives of the Licensing Act.

Playing Fields: Planning Permission

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to the answer of 21 October 2008,  Official Report, column 244W, on playing fields: planning permission, for what reasons the statistics for 2006-07 were not published in December 2008; and when he expects them to be published.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England has advised that they are still collating the statistics on planning permission affecting playing fields for 2006-07. These statistics are due to be finalised and published in the spring of 2009. The last statistics for planning applications affecting playing fields were published in spring 2008.

South Bank Centre: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Arts Council England paid to the South Bank Centre for managing its collections in each year since 1997.

Barbara Follett: Arts Council England has advised that it has the information requested only for the years since its merger with the Regional Arts Boards in 2002-03. Before this date, the Regional Arts Boards maintained their records according to their own systems and requirements. As a result, any figures relating to periods before 2002-03 can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The figures for the period from 2002-03 are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   £ 
			 2002-03 149,500 
			 2003-04 150,500 
			 2004-05 160,000 
			 2005-06 160,000 
			 2006-07 257,000 
			 2007-08 257,000 
		
	
	Arts Council England advises that these figures represent costs separately identified in the funding agreement with the South Bank for particular storage facilities. The ongoing general costs of the collection are covered by the overall grant in aid allocation to the South Bank. The increase in 2006-07 was due to a significant expansion of these storage facilities.

OLYMPICS

Departmental Surveys

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how much her office's media and communication unit has spent on public surveys since its inception.

Tessa Jowell: The Government Olympic Executive (GOE) commissions an annual poll, to help inform the Government of the general public's views on London 2012 and ensure their views are accounted for in developing plans for London 2012.
	The total expenditure for each of the last three years is:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2006-07 (1)— 
			 2007-08 58,855 
			 2008-09 53,475 
			 (1 )Nil return

Mass Media

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what the cost of her Office's contracts with press monitoring services has been since it was established.

Tessa Jowell: The Government Olympic Executive shares Media monitoring with DCMS provided by EDS Media through a contract that began in April 2008. The total cost to the Department to-date is £36,283.33. It is not possible to break down the exact proportion of this contract used by the Government Olympic Executive.
	In addition, the Department pays an annual subscription charge to the Media Monitoring Unit (this is part of the Central Office of Information, previously part of the Cabinet Office). A breakdown of this cost is unavailable as the annual charge includes a number of services including some press monitoring.

Olympic Games 2012: Contracts

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether contractors at the Olympic site with business continuity plans are required to comply with BS25999 on business continuity management.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority applies a 'balanced scorecard' approach to evaluating bids. 'Cost', 'delivering on time' and 'quality' are paramount scorecard factors. While compliance with the BS25999 is not a specific requirement, contractors' ability to comply with this standard for business continuity management is a consideration when reviewing contractor tenders.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

10 Downing Street: Internet

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many hits the 10 Downing street website has received since its most recent redesign.

Gordon Brown: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for North-East Hertfordshire (Mr. Heald) on 26 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1481-82W. Further information requested is available on the Downing street YouTube channel at:
	http://uk.youtube.com/user/DowningSt.
	A copy of this webpage has been placed in the Library of the House.

Employment Summit

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  what the cost to the public purse of catering at the employment summit held on 12 January 2009 was; and what suppliers were used for catering at the event;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the list of attendees at the employment summit held on 12 January 2009;
	(3)  what the cost to the public purse was of the employment summit held on 12 January 2009.

Tony McNulty: I have been asked to reply
	The employment summit was held in London on 12 January. It was led by the Prime Minister and was attended by over 120 key figures from business, trade unions, academia, work-place providers and representative bodies.
	The summit provided an opportunity to discuss how Government and employers could best work in partnership to help people and business through the downturn fairly and get people and business in the best possible shape for the up-turn.
	The list of attendees has been placed in the Library.
	The total cost of the event was £162,076.18, of which the cost of the catering was £5,641.82. The catering was provided by Mustard Catering.

Public Expenditure: Wales

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which of the schemes outlined in the New Opportunities White Paper, Cm. 7533, will entail a Barnett consequential for Wales in (a) each year to 2010-11 and  (b) the period of the next comprehensive spending review; and which have been identified as entailing no such consequential payments.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	Spending measures in the New Opportunities White Paper are funded from within departmental budgets and therefore there are no new Barnett consequentials beyond those announced in the comprehensive spending review.

WALES

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales with reference to the answer of 27 October 2008,  Official Report, column 600W, on departmental training, what personal training courses at public expense other Ministers in his Department have undertaken since 1 January 2008.

Wayne David: One Minister in the Wales Office has taken a personal training course at public expense since 1 January 2008:
	Action Learning Set—National School of Government.

Departmental Travel

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what expenditure his Department has incurred in providing transport for Ministers between Parliament and departmental premises in each of the last five years.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office does not record individual journeys made in ministerial cars. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 6W. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the 'Ministerial Code'.

Departmental Working Hours

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  what the policy of his Department and its agencies is on granting staff time off in lieu for working  (a) in lunch breaks,  (b) in evenings and  (c) at other times outside contracted working hours; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many days off in lieu were granted to staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies for working (i) in lunch breaks and (ii) at other times outside contracted working hours, in the last year for which figures are available.

Paul Murphy: Wales Office employees may be given time off in lieu for any overtime taken at the individual line manager's discretion, staff are actively encouraged to take the minimum of half-hour for lunch on a daily basis.
	Time off in lieu is not recorded centrally by the Wales Office. As such the answer cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.

Mass Media

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the cost of his Department's contracts with press monitoring services was in each of the last five years.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office has spent the following amounts on media monitoring with the companies listed:
	 COI
	2006-07: £8,401
	2007-08: £11,045
	 Meltwater News UK Ltd .
	2006-07: £4,136
	2007-08: £3,309
	 TNS Media Intelligence
	2005-06: £6,650
	2006-07: £9,868
	2007-08: £13,700.
	We do not hold records in this form before 2006-07.

Official Cars

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what cars are  (a) owned,  (b) leased,  (c) hired and  (d) otherwise regularly used by his Department, broken down by cubic capacity of engine.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office leases three vehicles from the Government Car and Dispatch Agency (GCDA). I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 10W, about cars provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Prisoners: Mentally Ill

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was spent on mental health services for prisoners in each  (a) prison and  (b) health authority area in Wales in each of the last five financial years; and how many prisoners received such treatment in each such year.

Paul Murphy: The Welsh Assembly Government does not collect centrally how much of the ring-fenced mental health allocation is spent in respect of prisoners in Wales.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Carers

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made in implementing the provisions of the National Carers Strategy, published in June 2008, which relates to  (a) the provision of support for carers by Jobcentre Plus,  (b) flexible provision of skills training for carers and  (c) a review of the benefits for which carers may be eligible.

Tony McNulty: The National Carers Strategy committed Jobcentre Plus to improvements to the support it offers to carers by improving information about flexible job vacancies; introducing Care Partnership Managers in every district; introducing specialist training for Jobcentre Plus advisers who work with carers; funding replacement care for those who are participating in approved training; ensuring carers have access to appropriate employment programmes and investigating the feasibility of providing return to work support through third sector organisations. It is expected that recruitment for the Care Partnership Managers will begin in April 2009 and that the remaining support will be available by the end of the year.
	The National Carers Strategy committed the Department to providing skills training in a flexible manner so it is accessible for carers. A training pilot in the west midlands is currently looking at the best way to deliver flexible training to Jobcentre Plus customers and we are currently developing plans for a Great Britain wide roll-out.
	In the National Carers Strategy, the Department also committed to examining carers' benefits in the context of our wider ambitions for the welfare state, and the future of the care and support system.
	In December, we published the White Paper, "Raising Expectations and Increasing Support: Reforming Welfare for the Future" (Cm 7506), in which we outlined our views for the future of the benefit system, and gave a commitment that the needs of carers would be a central consideration in these changes.

Carers

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent progress has been made on commissioning Jobcentre Plus training programmes for carers; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Carers currently have access to Jobcentre Plus approved training through a range of New Deal programmes. As part of the National Carers' Strategy, Jobcentre Plus is examining the most effective ways of supporting carers into training. Some carers may need more specialist support because of their caring responsibilities or the length of time they have spent caring. It is envisaged that Jobcentre Plus staff will identify gaps in the provision and work with experienced third sector providers to meet this demand.

Disability Living Allowance: Children

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assessment he has made for the reasons for increases in expenditure on disability living allowance for children since 1992-93; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  for what purposes disability living allowance is paid in respect of children; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Disability living allowance provides a contribution towards the extra costs faced by severely disabled people as a result of a long-term disability. Broadly, entitlement depends on the extent to which the person needs help with personal care, needs supervision or, from the age of three years, has difficulties with walking. In the case of children under the age of 16, disability living allowance can only be paid if their needs are substantially in excess of the typical requirements of a child of the same age.
	The increase in expenditure on disability living allowance paid to children broadly reflects the overall increase in disability living allowance expenditure. The reasons for that increase are complex but are mainly attributable to demographic changes, greater awareness of the benefit, improvements in diagnosis for childhood conditions and an extension of the higher rate mobility component to children aged three and four in 2001.

Employment

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to undertake an assessment of employment retention assessments as referred to in his Department's White Paper, "Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future".

Tony McNulty: As outlined in the White Paper, "Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future", we will work across Government and with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to consider including appropriate references to employment retention assessments in the guidance and code(s) of practice that will accompany the Equality Bill.
	In addition, DWP and the Office for Disability Issues will examine options to deliver a cross-Government employment retention strategy for disabled people as part of the development of the Independent Living Strategy.

EU Grants and Loans

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what allocation of funding the UK has received from the European Social Fund (ESF) for the next 12 months; and what allocations of funding from the ESF have been made.

Tony McNulty: The allocation of funding for the UK from the European Social Fund (ESF) for 2009 is €645.93 million. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has responsibility for ESF funding in England. The €449.555 million for England for 2009 has been allocated to the Department, the Learning and Skills Council and other funding bodies within their ESF plans for 2007-10. The devolved Administrations have responsibility for ESF funding in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Industrial Health and Safety: Hearing Impaired

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department takes to  (a) improve employers' understanding of deafness and  (b) ensure employers do not discriminate on grounds of health and safety against (i) deaf British Sign Language users and (ii) employees who become deafened during the course of their employment.

Jonathan R Shaw: Through the "Employ ability" programme, we are engaging with employers to improve their understanding of disability and their attitudes towards employing disabled people.
	The key aims of "Employ ability" include challenging negative assumptions about the skills and talent that disabled workers, and those with long-term health conditions, have to offer, building the confidence of employers in recruiting and retaining disabled workers. "Employ ability" activity is aimed at small to medium-sized employers and is being rolled out to Scotland, Wales and seven regions between 24 March 2008 and 27 February 2009.
	To ensure that employers do not discriminate against deaf people, we support and uphold the principles of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Act provides protection from discrimination for a person who has a hearing impairment, provided that the person meets the definition of a disabled person under the Act. The Act requires an employer not to discriminate against a disabled person by treating the person less favourably for a reason related to the person's disability, unless that treatment can be justified.
	People who are deaf or who become deaf in the course of their employment, and their employers may also receive support from Access to Work. Support is tailored to the individual customer's needs but can include funding for British Sign Language Interpreters, Lip Speakers or Palantypists; whether as support workers in the work place or for communication support at job interviews.
	Access to Work could also provide indirect support to a deaf person by funding awareness training to help the person's work colleagues, including their employer, gain a better understanding of their condition.

Jobcentre Plus: Christchurch

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the former Jobcentre Plus office at Wick lane, Christchurch, will be brought back into use; and what the liability of his Department is for empty property rates on the premises.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 19 January 2009
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking when the former Jobcentre Plus office at Wick lane, Christchurch will be brought back into use and what the liability of his Department is for empty property rates on the premises. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Christchurch Jobcentre Plus was closed on 28 March 2008 as a result of the review of our service delivery plans in the South West region. As a part of the review the new Bournemouth Jobcentre Plus was future proofed to cope with any downturn in the economy and consequent increase in Jobcentre Plus business volumes. There is no intention to bring the Jobcentre Plus office at Wick lane, Christchurch into use.
	I can confirm the property used in Christchurch by Jobcentre Plus was provided for the Department by Landsecurities Trillium under the PRIME contract, and upon completion of the formal vacation actions, the Department has no further liability (Landsecurities Trillium hold all the leases). The Asset manager for Trillium has confirmed the lease for part of the space has expired and it was "returned" to the landlord in the summer. The remaining part of the space is unoccupied and is currently being marketed. However, they have had no firm interest and the building remains vacant. Trillium is meeting the business rates payable on the property. The Department has had no liability for empty property rates since the property was formally disposed of on 1 July 2008.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Jobcentre Plus: Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people  (a) used the services of and  (b) found work through the Nairn Jobcentre Plus office in each of the five years before it was closed.

Tony McNulty: The information is not available.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the percentage change in the number of jobseeker's allowance claimants in each local authority area has been over the last 12 months.

Tony McNulty: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Chelmsford

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what courses his Department offered to claimants of jobseeker's allowance in Chelmsford in the last 12 months; and what the cost was per person of each course completed.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 20 January 2009
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what courses his Department offered to claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance in Chelmsford in the last 12 months; and what the cost was per person of each course completed. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Eligible customers in Chelmsford receiving Jobseeker's Allowance have had access to a range of training provision over the last twelve months through our training programmes including New Deals, Access to Work, Programme Centres, Workstep, Workprep and through our Rapid Response Fund. We have also purchased individually tailored training for eligible customers. Jobseeker's Allowance customers have also accessed training by other partners including The Learning and Skills Council, Local Authorities and Colleges.
	Specific information is not available for all training courses completed by our Jobseeker's Allowance customers in Chelmsford, nor on what the cost was per person of each course completed.
	My District Manager for Essex, Neil Brettell, will be delighted to brief you in more detail on the range of provision available in the Chelmsford area. Neil can be contacted on 01245 214242, by post at Government Buildings, Beeches Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 2RT or by email at:
	Neil.Brettell@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk

Pensioners: Carers

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate, on the basis of household surveys supported by his Department, how many people over state pension age are engaged in caring for  (a) at least 20 hours per week and  (b) at least 35 hours per week for a person over pension age who is in receipt of either attendance allowance or the care component of disability living allowance; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 22 January 2009
	The information requested is not available.

Poverty: Children

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1685W, on poverty: children, how many children were living in poverty in Scotland in January  (a) 2007,  (b) 2008 and  (c) 2009.

Kitty Ussher: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 19 November 2008,  Official Report, column 563W.
	2006-07 data is still the latest available information.

Social Fund

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many applications for  (a) grants and  (b) loans from the Social Fund were (i) approved and (ii) refused in each of the last 10 years.

Kitty Ussher: The available information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Community care grants for  G reat  B ritain 
			  Thousand 
			   Initial awards  Initial refusal 
			 1998-99 225 944 
			 1999-2000 219 426 
			 2000-01 225 362 
			 2001-02 233 346 
			 2002-03 245 346 
			 2003-04 256 330 
			 2004-05 261 307 
			 2005-06 275 299 
			 2006-07 271 324 
			 2007-08 247 288 
		
	
	
		
			  Budgeting loans for  G reat  B ritain 
			  Thousand 
			   Initial awards  Initial refusals 
			 1998-99 935 442 
			 1999-2000 1,017 647 
			 2000-01 1,145 531 
			 2001-02 1,240 460 
			 2002-03 1,251 466 
			 2003-04 1,250 428 
			 2004-05 1,200 377 
			 2005-06 1,217 371 
			 2006-07 1,298 411 
			 2007-08 1,168 352 
		
	
	
		
			  Crisis loans for  G reat  B ritain 
			  Thousand 
			   Initial awards  Initial refusals 
			 1998-99 866 247 
			 1999-2000 939 336 
			 2000-01 930 342 
			 2001-02 991 317

Social Security Benefits: Databases

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his most recent estimate is of the error rate in benefit system data; and what factors he has identified as the most common causes of such error.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to tables 4A, 4B and 5B, 5C, and 5E in "Fraud and Error in the Benefit System: April 2007 to March 2008" (ISBN: 978-1-84763-691-1), a DWP National Statistics publication, a copy of which is in the Library.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to reduce instances of fraud and error in the benefit system which arise from cases where mail has been misdirected.

Tony McNulty: The Department and local authorities have in place an agreement with Royal Mail whereby any mail that is returned to the postal system because the customer is not, or no longer, at the delivery address is returned to the Department or local authority and not redirected to any forwarding address.

State Retirement Pensions: Overseas Residence

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to ensure that payments made by his Department in sterling to UK pensioners resident abroad can be made by direct deposits into overseas sterling accounts; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Pension payments to UK pensioners resident abroad are paid directly into an account overseas in local currency. This is more convenient for the majority of customers and the rates the Government have negotiated to convert from sterling to the relevant currency are more competitive than those that could be obtained by individual customers.
	Customers can choose to have their payments made in sterling to a UK bank account if they wish.

Take Up Taskforce: Manpower

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many full-time equivalent staff make up the Take Up Taskforce.

Kitty Ussher: The taskforce membership comprises 15 representatives from local authorities and business, public and third sector bodies, and key voluntary organisations. Members are giving their time free of charge and bringing a wealth of existing expertise and research from within their organisations.
	The secretariat for the Take Up Taskforce is provided by one full-time equivalent member of staff who has been seconded to the joint child poverty unit from a local authority. The secretariat also has some analytical support from within the child poverty unit.

TRANSPORT

A435

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investigations the Highways Agency has undertaken into the state of the culvert under the A435 in Ashchurch parish; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The A435 through Ashchurch has now been renumbered the A46. The culvert has been the subject of CCTV investigation to identify its condition. Debris which had collected at the southern outfall of the culvert has been cleared and the location is regularly monitored and clearance work undertaken as appropriate. The CCTV survey has shown that there is a problem with disjointed pipework and blockages within the culvert and a scheme is currently being costed by the Highways Agency and will be added to a future works programme.

Bus Services: Concessions

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department will reimburse local authorities for the full cost to them of implementing the national concessionary bus fares scheme.

Paul Clark: holding answer 28 January 2009
	 The Government are confident that there is sufficient funding in total for statutory concessionary fares.
	The statutory concession was improved from April 2008 to provide free off-peak concessionary bus travel throughout England. An additional £212 million is being provided to local authorities by special grant in 2008-09, rising over the next two years, solely to pay for this improvement of the statutory concession.
	In autumn 2007 the Department for Transport consulted widely on the formula used to distribute the grant. The distribution is based on generous assumptions about fares, bus pass take-up, extra journeys and additional costs, taking account of the likely demand in visitor hotspots such as coastal towns, urban centres and tourist destinations.
	The special grant is solely to cover the additional cost of the new concession. Funding for the existing elements of the concession, which make up the bulk of the costs, will continue to be provided through Revenue Support Grant and is not separately identified.
	The Department proposes to begin consulting shortly on possible changes to the way concessionary travel is administered. Any changes may provide an opportunity to consider how best to distribute the totality of funding.

Charities

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport to which  (a) charities and  (b) voluntary organisations his Department has provided funding in the last five years; and how much funding was provided to each.

Geoff Hoon: A complete list of contributions to voluntary organisations and charities within the last five years could be made only at disproportionate cost. However, I can provide details over the last three years of contributions made within the third sector over the last three years. Tables have been placed in the Libraries of the House.
	Table A sets out expenditure made by the Central Department. Table B sets out expenditure made by the Department's agencies; details of expenditure of less than £100 could only be provided at disproportionate cost and these costs are therefore shown as an amalgamated total.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the operator of the Dartford-Thurrock crossing has made under its contract with the Department in each year since 2002; and how much revenue has accrued to the Department from the operation of the crossing in each such year.

Paul Clark: The current operator, Le Crossing Company Ltd., has been managing the operation of the crossing since 1 April 2003. Prior to this the crossing was managed by Dartford River Crossing Ltd. Details of their accounts are available through a search at Companies House.
	The Highways Agency does prepare an annual account for the Dartford-Thurrock Crossing Charging Scheme. Copies of the accounts for the years from 2003-04 to 2006-07 have been placed in the House Library and include details of the amounts paid to the managing agent for operating the crossing and the gross/net revenue. The 2007-08 accounts were laid today.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much capital expenditure has been brought forward in response to the economic downturn by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies to  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11; from which years such expenditure has been brought forward; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: As part of the fiscal stimulus the Department for Transport has brought forward £700 million from 2010-11 to 2009-10. £400 million will be used by the Highways Agency to bring forward high value schemes on the strategic roads network. £300 million will be used for the procurement of diesel unit rolling stock as part of the Department's High Level Output Specification for Britain's rail network.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on digital media training courses provided by the Internet Advertising Bureau in 2008; how many such training sessions were held in 2008; and how many staff in his Department attended at least one such training course.

Geoff Hoon: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Written Questions

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many holding answers his Department has given in response to parliamentary questions for written answer in the last 12 months; and of those how many are still awaiting a final answer.

Geoff Hoon: In the 12 months to 28 January 2009 the Department for Transport gave 363 holding answers. As of 28 January 2009 three await substantive answer.

Legal Opinion

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost was of external legal services engaged by his Department in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Geoff Hoon: In the past two years the Department for Transport (including its agencies) has spent the following on external legal fees.
	2006-07: £3,143,937
	2007-08: £3,285,775

M5: Land

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what land the Highways Agency owns between junctions 8 and 9 of the M5; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: Between Junctions 8 and 9 of the M5, the Highways Agency owns land within the highway boundary that was originally purchased to construct the motorway. Generally these boundaries are fenced from the adjoining land.

M5: Repairs and Maintenance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies the Highways Agency has undertaken into possible improvements to the culvert of the Carrant Brook under the M5 between junctions 8 and 9; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 18 December 2008,  Official Report, column 1007W, to his previous question, which gave details of the work carried out by the Highways Agency to clear culverts and drains between Junctions 8 and 11a of the M5. This work identified maintenance requirements which are now being carefully monitored, but did not show a particular problem at the Carrant Brook culvert. As a result, the Highways Agency does not consider that a further specific study of this culvert is necessary at this stage.

M5: Repairs and Maintenance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent works to improve drainage have been undertaken between junction 8 of the M5 junction and junction 1 of the M50; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Highways Agency has carried out the following investigatory work at this location:
	Schemes to repair damaged drainage systems have been identified and are currently being priced and will be entered into future programmes;
	Problems were identified with a Severn Trent water main being located within the present drainage system and the company has been contacted. They are programming work to remove this;
	Removal of tree roots within the drainage system to improve capacity; and
	Liaison with local land owners has resulted in them increasing drainage capacity on their land to prevent run-off onto the motorway.

Northern Rail: Rolling Stock

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average age of the rail rolling stock operated by Northern Rail is; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: Northern Rail can provide the most accurate answer. However, our calculations indicate the average age of the fleet is 19.78 years. The life of diesel and electric rolling stock is assumed to be around 30-35 years. During the life of the rolling stock it will undergo a number of major examinations and will normally have improvements made to the interiors of the vehicles.

Operon

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department gave to Operon facilities management to supplement Operon employee wages in 2008.

Geoff Hoon: Nothing.

Railway Stations: Crime

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effects of staff presence at rail stations on rates of  (a) ticket fraud and  (b) other crimes at stations.

Paul Clark: Whether and how to staff stations are primarily matters for individual operators. The Department for Transport has not therefore carried out any recent study of the effect of staffing on crime. However, the National Passenger Survey includes a question about how safe passengers feel when using stations. In the most recent survey, in autumn 2008, only 8 per cent. of those questioned were dissatisfied with station security.

Roads: Accidents

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents resulted in a fatality in Crosby constituency in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number of fatalities resulting from personal injury road accidents in Crosby constituency in each of the last five years is given in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of fatalities 
			 2003 1 
			 2004 2 
			 2005 1 
			 2006 4 
			 2007 0 
			  Note: Based on 2004 boundaries

Roads: Accidents

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were  (a) injured and  (b) killed in road traffic accidents in the north-west in each of the last five years, broken down by police authority area.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of casualties that were  (a) injured and  (b) killed resulting from personal injury road accidents in the north-west in each of the last five years, broken down by police authority area are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of casualties 
			  Policy authority area   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Cumbria Injured 2,641 2,685 2,685 2,421 2,373 
			  Killed 54 57 45 59 45 
			
			 Lancashire Injured 7,413 7,749 7,937 7,908 7,650 
			  Killed 86 58 93 63 55 
			
			 Merseyside Injured 7,406 7,312 7,243 6,426 5,737 
			  Killed 67 62 59 45 30 
			
			 Greater Manchester Injured 14,018 13,449 12,718 11,705 10,609 
			  Killed 126 94 87 90 93 
			
			 Cheshire Injured 6,180 5,915 67 5,481 5,205 4,838 
			  Killed 72 67 78 64 48 
			
			 North West Injured 37,658 37,110 36,064 33,665 31,207 
			  Killed 405 338 362 321 271

Roads: Accidents

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people  (a) died and  (b) were injured in road accidents where the cause of the accident was drink-driving in each of the last five years, broken down by police authority.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport publishes estimates of the number of casualties in drink-drive accidents where one or more of the motor vehicle drivers or riders involved was over the legal alcohol limit. These estimates are calculated on a national basis. Police force area estimates are not available. Figures for Great Britain are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of casualties 
			   Killed  Injured 
			 2003 580 18,410 
			 2004 580 16,400 
			 2005 550 14,850 
			 2006 560 13,810 
			 2007(1) 460 14,020 
			 (1) Provisional data. Final figures will be published in August 2008. 
		
	
	The drink-drive estimates are published in an article entitled "Drinking and driving" in "Road Casualties Great Britain—Annual report 2007". Copies of the report have been deposited in the Libraries of the House and it is also available at the following web address:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/casualtiesgbar/roadcasualtiesgreatbritain20071

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which projects in the proposed public works schedule he proposes to bring forward as part of the programme of accelerating public works; and when he expects work on each accelerated project to begin.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 26 January 2009
	In November 2008 the Chancellor announced, as part of his pre-Budget report, that £700 million of fiscal stimulus funding was being brought forward by the Department for Transport.
	£400 million of this will be used by the Highways Agency in 2009-10 to bring forward high value schemes on the strategic roads network. This includes, subject to completing statutory processes and confirmation of co-funding from the region, bringing forward by two years the start of construction for the scheme to dual the A46 from Newark to Widmerpool. In addition the funding will allow us to bring forward work to strengthen hard shoulders in advance of the implementation of hard shoulder running as well as other high value structure and asset renewal projects.
	The exact schemes that will benefit from the fiscal stimulus is being developed as part of developing the Highways Agency's 2009-10 Business Plan.
	The remaining £300 million is to be used for the procurement of diesel unit rolling stock as part of the Department's High Level Output Specification for the British rail network. The first part of the procurement process has begun.

Transport: Employment

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many of the up to 100,000 jobs the Government expects to be created he expects will result from transport capital projects; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: Preliminary estimates suggest that approximately 37,500 jobs will be created over the next two years as a result of expenditure of £15 billion on transport capital projects. The figures are based on the Department's evidence base of analyses of previous capital projects.

Transport: Expenditure

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in respect of which transport infrastructure projects with a forecast cost of more than £5 million the Highways Agency has carried out feasibility studies; how much these studies have cost; how many of the schemes subject to a feasibility study were approved; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: Since being established in 1994 the Highways Agency has conducted a significant number of feasibility studies which are carried out routinely for projects that are estimated to cost in excess of £5 million. This covers all major infrastructure projects categorised into widening, bypass, junction and technology schemes, consideration of high occupancy vehicle lanes and, more recently, managed motorway improvements. Historically the Highways Agency's operating protocols and governance arrangements have not required discrete tracking of the costs associated with feasibility work but have been managed within overall resource budget allocations provided by central Government.
	Taking into account the number of feasibility studies undertaken since 1994, the amount of work required and the need to access a large number of archived records, it has been concluded that the cost associated with identifying the cost of each study is considered disproportionate.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Pollution

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of levels of  (a) PM10,  (b) PM2.5,  (c) O3,  (d) NO2 and  (e) NO in each of the 20 largest cities and towns in England by population size for each year between 2005 and 2012; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which cities and towns in England are currently in breach of air quality laws on  (a) nitrogen dioxide,  (b) ozone and  (c) other nitrogen oxides; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library a copy of maps of the following air pollutants for each of the 20 largest cities and towns in England by population site showing the latest estimate he has for levels of  (a) PM10,  (b) PM2.5,  (c) nitrogen dioxide,  (d) ozone and  (e) nitrogen oxide.

Huw Irranca-Davies: For the purposes of assessing and reporting exceedences and breaches of air quality limit values, the UK is divided up into 43 agglomeration zones (areas with a contiguous population of over 250,000 as specified by the air quality directives) and non-agglomeration zones. There are 23 agglomeration zones in England and eight non-agglomeration zones; the latter are based on Government office regions in England.
	The air quality framework directive (1996/62/EC) and four daughter directives (1999/30/EC, 2000/69/EC, 2002/3/EC, and 2004/107/EC) set out our current obligations in relation to various pollutants in ambient air. Of the pollutants mentioned, the limit values currently in force are for particles measured as particulate matter (PM10). There are also limit values for the protection of vegetation and ecosystems for nitrogen oxides (NOx), but these specifically do not apply to urban areas, or to areas near busy roads.
	The limit values for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) do not come into force until 2010. The levels set for ozone (O3) are in the form of either target values, which do not have the same strict compliance criteria as limit values, or long term objectives, which have no compliance date. Other than those for the protection of vegetation and ecosystems, there are no additional limit values for other oxides of nitrogen. A new Council directive on ambient air and cleaner air for Europe (2008/50/EC) consolidates existing legislation and introduces new controls for PM2.5. The limit values for this pollutant are not yet in force.
	Under the EU legislation set out above, the UK is required to monitor the air continuously for levels of PM10, PM2.5, N02, NOx (from which levels of NO can be derived), O3 and a number of other pollutants. These data are freely available from the National Air Quality Archive
	http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/index.php
	This archive contains all the monitoring data collected for and by the Government in relation to air quality since 1962. It also contains details of the monitoring sites currently in use. In addition, the UK was one of a small number of member states to report modelled data alongside monitoring data. The national model used complies with the relevant data quality criteria set out in the various air quality directives, and is validated against monitored data. The annual report complied to accompany the UK submission to the European Commission on air quality is also held on the air quality archive:
	http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/cat09/0807231621 _dd12006mapsrep_v2.pdf
	This contains maps of roadside and background levels of PM10, and NO2/NOx, although these are not given on a city by city basis; such information is not readily available. Maps for O3 are held in a separate report on the same site:
	http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/reports/cat09/0807301054 _DD3_mapsrep2006_v2.pdf.
	These reports also contain a map showing the location and extent of the UK agglomeration and non-agglomeration zones.
	The model used to produce these reports is also used to provide projections of future air quality. This is a complex process and is generally only carried out in response to specific policy needs. In predicting future air quality, a "baseline" is constructed to show what effect currently planned measures and policies will have on air quality. Such a baseline has been prepared for 2010, 2011 and 2012 for PM10 and NO2, to support potential applications for time extensions for these pollutants, allowed under the 2008 directive, for compliance with the limit values. A consultation on the application for PM10 will be published shortly; it is planned to initiate a consultation on the application for NO2 towards the end of 2009. One of the outputs from this baseline is an assessment of the agglomeration and non-agglomeration zones predicted to contain locations where the air quality is above the relevant limit value level.
	For NO2, the limit value is predicted to be exceeded in all but three zones in England in 2010, all but four in 2011 and all but five in 2012. The zones in compliance are predicted to be Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton, Blackpool Urban Area, and Preston Urban Area in 2010, additionally Bournemouth Urban Area in 2011, and additionally Coventry/Bedworth in 2012.
	The outcome of the baseline assessment for PM10 was that two zones—Greater London and the West Midlands were predicted to be in exceedence in 2010, reducing to one (Greater London) in 2011 and 2012. The extent of the predicted exceedence in 2011 was a total 40km of roads, mainly in central London. However, the baseline assessment had not taken into account all of the traffic and transport measures planned for implementation by the Greater London Authority and Transport for London. Nor did the assessment use the more accurate traffic growth projections prepared by Transport for London for the London area, relying instead on national data. Sensitivity analysis including these measures reduced the total road length exceeding to around 6km, which is well within the uncertainties of the model. Using this additional analysis, there is no exceedence predicted for 2012.

Birds: Nature Conservation

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the merits of strengthening controls on the sale of those non-CITES species of birds removed from Schedule 4 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Huw Irranca-Davies: All non-CITES species of birds removed from Schedule 4 are subject to the sales controls provided in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The removal of certain species from Schedule 4 has not affected the fact that it will remain an offence to possess or sell a wild bird that has been illegally taken.

British Waterways Board: Finance

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether the £5 million spending on the infrastructure of British Waterways announced in the pre-Budget report will be included in the allocation for British Waterways for 2010-11;
	(2)  what budget his Department plans to provide for British Waterways in 2010-11.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The £5 million brought forward from 2010-11 to 2009-10 is a movement of indicative budget from one year to another and will not be double-counted. Final allocations for the constituent parts of the DEFRA budget for 2010-11 have not yet been made. The intention is to agree 2010-11 budgets by the spring of 2009.

British Waterways Board: Finance

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of British Waterways' projected funding shortfall for 2010-11 in relation to the funding requirement identified by the steady state model.

Huw Irranca-Davies: DEFRA is working with British Waterways to agree a sustainable and affordable strategy for the waterways in order to get the best public benefits from the resources available.
	The KPMG report published in September last year concluded that British Waterways has a significant funding gap in relation to the requirements of the steady state model. This has led to a review by British Waterways into its overall funding and initiatives to raise more income from a variety of sources and to see additional efficiencies and savings in its expenditure. These will feed into its consultation on future strategy later this year. We will discuss with British Waterways the conclusions of its review and its implications for future strategy and funding requirements for its waterways.

Carbon Emissions: Water

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the level of carbon dioxide emissions from  (a) industrial,  (b) commercial and  (c) agricultural uses of water; what steps he is taking to reduce levels of carbon dioxide emissions from heavily intensive water usage in each sector; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: A carbon footprint for the UK water industry was published for the first time in 2008 in "Future Water", the Government's water strategy for England. The industry emits around five million tonnes of greenhouse gases per year, as carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e). There are no separate figures for different end-uses, however, the non-domestic sector that includes the industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors is estimated to use 23 per cent. of the public water supply. The industrial sector also uses significant quantities of direct abstractions but it is difficult to estimate the associated carbon emissions due to variability in the extent of treatment and in pumping distances.
	The Carbon Reduction Commitment will bring about reductions in carbon emissions from across the economy, including from the water industry. In addition, we have received a commitment from Water UK that the water companies will seek to ensure that at least 20 per cent. of all energy used by the UK water industry comes from renewable sources by 2020.

Departmental Contracts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what contracts to which his Department is a party continue beyond 1 July 2010.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Department is compiling this information for publication in its departmental report for 2009, a copy of which will be placed in the Library of the House. The report is published normally in May of the named year.

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's average response time to a letter received from  (a) an hon. Member and  (b) a member of the public was in each of the last three years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members correspondence. The report for 2007 was published on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 71-74WS. Information for 2008 is currently being collated and will be published as soon as it is ready. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.
	The 2008 DEFRA Departmental Report contains the 2006 and 2007 performance figures for the handling of all types of correspondence. The 2009 report will contain the figures for 2008 and will be published as soon as it is ready. The report can be found on the DEFRA website.

Departmental Manpower

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) external contractors and  (b) other non-departmental staff were employed by his Department in London in each of the last five financial years; and at what cost were such staff employed in each year.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Information on how many external contractors and other non-departmental staff were engaged by the core-Department in London and their costs in each of the last five financial years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The core-Department's expenditure on consultancy and professional services for the financial years 2003-04 through to 2007-08 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Expenditure 
			  £ million 
			  Category  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 IT and Telecommunications 53 99 131 163 130 
			 Management and Business Consultancy 20 79 44 29 17 
			 Programme and Project Management 23 24 18 4 10 
			 Research and Development 10 18 20 33 35 
			 Specialist Consultancy 40 36 37 54 56 
			 Temp Staff 9 10 10 7 5

Departmental Official Residences

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East of 9 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 727-28W, on departmental official residences, whether the council tax bills for departmental residential accommodation are paid from departmental funds; and what his Department's policy is on responsibility for paying charges for the collection of household waste associated with the property.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Department has a limited number of dwellings used to accommodate key workers. These premises are usually let on formal tenancies which require the occupiers to discharge council tax among the usual occupational outgoings.
	With regard to a policy for the responsibility for paying charges for the collection of household waste, this is yet to be considered. However as an occupier cost it would not be unreasonable for any such charges to be borne by the occupiers.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on digital media training courses provided by the Internet Advertising Bureau in 2008; how many such training sessions were held in 2008; and how many staff in his Department attended at least one such training course.

Huw Irranca-Davies: From information held centrally, there is no vendor 'Internet Advertising Bureau' registered on the core-Department's financial system.

Departmental Travel

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expenditure his Department has incurred in providing transport for Ministers between Parliament and departmental premises in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 5W. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the 'Ministerial Code'.

Departmental Written Questions

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many occasions in the last 12 months Ministers in his Department have used their discretion to rule that a parliamentary question for written answer should be answered because it would be in the public interest to do so, even though to do so would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold of £700.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Department strives to answer all parliamentary questions with the relevant information as accurately and as concisely as possible having regard to the disproportionate cost threshold. The Department does not keep records of occasions on which Ministers have used their discretion to overrule the application of the cost threshold.

Floods: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether Lancashire county council has bid for funding to protect against future flooding.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Environment Agency has received no bids for funding from Lancashire county council this financial year and the council has not applied for funding for the resilience grants pilots.
	Lancashire, as a county, benefited from grant funding from the resilience grants pilot project through the Sunderland point pilot. This was run by Lancaster city council in collaboration with the Environment Agency from 2007 to 2008, with a project with a budget of £110,000. The results of this work are available in a report on the DEFRA website.

Floods: Montgomeryshire

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effects of flooding on the Pylon development scheme in Kerry, Montgomeryshire; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Flooding in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Assembly.

Rodents

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to publish the latest English Condition Survey data on rodent presence in domestic dwellings.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My Department has published on its website the latest report on rodent presence in domestic properties as revealed by the English House Condition Survey data for 2002-03 and 2003-04. Key findings are that the occurrences of rats inside and outside properties in these years are not significantly different from those observed in 2001.

Rodents

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the size of the rat population in the country.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My Department does not hold data on the size of the UK rat population. However, the latest report on rodent presence in domestic properties as revealed by the English House Condition Survey data for 2002-03 and 2003-04 is now available on DEFRA's website. Key findings are that the occurrences of rats inside and outside properties in these years are not significantly different from those observed in 2001.

Water Charges

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether his Department has made an impact assessment of new site area-based charges for surface drainage on  (a) sports clubs,  (b) churches and  (c) other voluntary groups.

Huw Irranca-Davies: Ofwat, the independent economic regulator for the water industry, is responsible for approving charging schemes. The Government are aware of the affordability issues faced by some customers as a result of the switch from charging based on rateable value to site area and are currently reviewing their position.

Water Supply

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1626W, on water supply, for what reason the original timetable for water companies to prepare their statement of response to the consultation was not met.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The overriding requirement of section 37 of the Water Industry Act 1991 is that a water company must provide a coherent plan that demonstrates how it will ensure a supply and demand balance for water.
	In their statements of response, water companies must respond to the representations they received and say how these have been reflected in their plans and any changes that have been made to the plan in light of the representations.
	The original timetable was extended to allow water companies additional time, which they needed in order to provide the evidence required to demonstrate the impacts any changes made to the plan will have on their subsequent appraisal, and selection, of the preferred water supply and demand options necessary to maintain their statutory water supply duties over the next 25 years.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Buildings

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what Government Equalities Office assets are planned to be sold in each financial year from 2007-08 to 2010-11; what the  (a) description and  (b) book value of each such asset is; what the expected revenue from each such sale is; and if she will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: As recorded in its Annual Report and Resource Accounts 2007-08 the Government Equalities Office does not own any fixed or intangible assets.

Departmental Internet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what websites the Government Equalities Office  (a) funds and  (b) part-funds.

Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) has overall responsibility for one website:
	www.equalities.gov.uk.
	The GEO has also made a financial contribution to the Ethnic Minority Foundation to develop a website aimed towards issues of concern to young people.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how much the Government Equalities Office spent on digital media training courses provided by the Internet Advertising Bureau in 2008; how many such training sessions were held in 2008; and how many staff in the Government Equalities Office attended at least one such training course.

Maria Eagle: The Government Equalities Office has not spent any money on digital media training courses.

Domestic Violence: Nottinghamshire

John Mann: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many recorded incidents of domestic violence there have been in  (a) Bassetlaw and  (b) Nottinghamshire in each of the last three years; and how many of these resulted in a successful prosecution.

Maria Eagle: holding answer 26 January 2009
	 Government figures from 2006-07 and 2007-08 show the number of domestic violence cases being reported has increased. This is a testament to the growing confidence victims have that they will be listened to and their reports effectively investigated coupled with the specialist and practical support victims receive.
	The available data on domestic violence incidents are based on domestic violence arrest rates taken from the Statutory Performance Indicators (SPI 8a) suite used in police force performance assessments for 2007-08. The following table shows the number of recorded incidents of domestic violence in Nottinghamshire for each of the last three years. The Government do not hold discrete figures for Bassetlaw.
	
		
			  Nottinghamshire domestic violence incidents 
			   Number 
			 2005-06 15,279 
			 2006-07 17,534 
			 2007-08 19,166 
		
	
	The following table shows the outcome of prosecutions for domestic violence from the records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The figures are for Nottinghamshire as a whole. No discrete figures are held in respect of Bassetlaw.
	
		
			  Nottinghamshire Crown Prosecution Service domestic violence outcomes 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			 Convictions 691 801 815 
			 Unsuccessful 467 555 364 
			 Total 1,158 1,356 1,179 
		
	
	The figures represent the number of defendants whose case was completed in each year and are divided into convictions, (including guilty pleas), and unsuccessful outcomes which represent all outcomes other than where a conviction is recorded.
	There has been an improvement in the proportion of post-charge proceedings for domestic violence resulting in a conviction over recent years. Nationally, convictions increased from 63.5 per cent. of completed cases in 2006 to 72 per cent. in 2008. The improvement in CPS Nottinghamshire over the same period was from 59.7 per cent. to 69.1 per cent.

Domestic Violence: Victims

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government have taken to support women and children who are subject to domestic violence in the last two years.

Maria Eagle: Independent domestic violence advisers provide invaluable support to victims of domestic violence and their families. Evidence shows that incidents of victimisation decrease and victims are less likely to withdraw from cases. This is why we have provided over 6 million this financial year to support the extension of Advisors and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences across England and Wales. Also, in 2006-07, local authorities spent over 61 million of their funding allocated through the Supporting People programme on housing-related support services for women at risk of domestic violence. Further, last financial year we provided funding to local authorities worth 47.2 million through the Homelessness Strategy and Support Directorate's grant programmes a proportion of which can be used to develop outreach and other innovative models, such as the sanctuary scheme.

Females: Human Trafficking

Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality if she will work with the Secretary of State for the Home Department to bring forward proposals for a commissioner with the remit of reducing the trafficking of women to the UK for sexual exploitation.

Maria Eagle: We believe that existing mechanisms (the Inter-Departmental Ministerial Group on Human Trafficking and the Home Office NGO Stakeholder Group) provide appropriate forums for discussion and advocacy on issues surrounding trafficking for sexual exploitation, as well as allowing for close scrutiny of progress on the Action Plan and the Council of Europe Convention.
	As Minister for Women and Equality, I ensure all Government departments are considering the specific concerns of vulnerable women. The Home Office and the UK Border Agency continue to work with our international partners both to raise awareness of human trafficking and further strengthen our ability to prevent this crime taking place.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on improving security in Afghanistan in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: In 2008 progress was made across Afghanistan but the insurgency remains resilient and 2009 will continue to present significant security challenges in certain areas of the country, particularly in the south and east.
	In Helmand, successful military operations by ISAF and Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) have allowed more of the province to come under the control of the Afghan Government. The recent Operation SOND CHARA saw Task Force Helmand, supported by ANSF, successfully clear Taleban from the town of Nad-e-Ali and its environs creating a secure environment to promote stabilisation and economic growth.

Aircraft Carriers

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the date for the completion of the Royal Navy aircraft carriers has been delayed; and if he will make a statement.

Quentin Davies: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made on 11 December 2008,  Official Report, column 65WS.

Armed Forces: Married People

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of personnel in each service who were  (a) divorced and  (b) separated in each year between 1997 and 2006.

Kevan Jones: For the number and proportion of divorced personnel, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 28 April 2008,  Official Report, column 51W.
	Figures on separation rates for this time period could be provided only at disproportionate cost and no such estimates have been made.

Armed Forces: Married People

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of personnel in each service who were  (a) divorced and  (b) separated in each month in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.

Kevan Jones: Records on the number of serving military personnel by marital status for this time period are not held centrally, following the implementation of the Joint Personnel Administration (JPA) system and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Recruitment

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many recruits of each sex have joined each unit of each of the armed forces at each rank in each of the last 10 years.

Bob Ainsworth: Information on armed forces recruitment by sex can be found in United Kingdom Defence Statistics (UKDS) 2008, Table 2.19 Intake to UK regular forces from civil life by Service and sex. UKDS is published annually; the most recent publication shows figures for the 12 months to 31 March 2008 and can be found at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/modintranet/UKDS2008/c2/table 219.html
	Intake to UK regular forces from civil life by unit could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The majority of personnel recruited into the armed forces do so at the lowest level rank of either the officer or other ranks rank structure. Only professional personnel (for example doctors and lawyers) are recruited at any other than the lowest rank and therefore data has not been provided.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the next stage in the Future Rapid Effects System procurement will be; and whether his Department has plans for off-shelf procurement of reconnaissance vehicles.

Quentin Davies: Outline plans for the procurement of the Future Rapid Effects System were announced by the Secretary of State for Defence on 11 December 2008,  Official Report, column 65WS. The MOD is currently considering how to take forward the procurement of the Utility Vehicle element of the Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) programme in order to ensure we provide Defence with the best possible capability at the best value for money.
	The Specialist Vehicle element of the FRES programme continues to make good progress and received Initial Gate approval to enter its Assessment Phase in June 2008. A range of programme options are currently being considered for the Reconnaissance variant, FRES Scout. A recommendation as to the preferred option will be made to the Department's Investment Approvals Board upon completion of the Assessment Phase.

Army : Deployment

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions the  (a) heavy and  (b) light artillery regiments have been deployed in each of the last 10 years; and (i) to which locations and (ii) on which operations they were deployed.

Bob Ainsworth: The deployments of the heavy and light artillery regiments over the last 10 years are shown as follows:
	
		
			  Heavy artillery units 
			  Unit  Operation name  Location  Date 
			  1 Regt RHA
			 AS90 (Heavy) Op Palatine Bosnia 1998-99 
			  Op Agricola Macedonia and Kosovo 1999 
			  Op Palatine Bosnia (1)2000 
			  Op Palatine Bosnia (1)2000 
			  Op Palatine Bosnia (1)2002 
			  Op Telic 4 Iraq 2004 
			  Op Tosca Cyprus 2005 
			  Op Telic 10 Iraq 2007 
			 
			  3 Regt RHA
			 AS90 (Heavy) Op Palatine Bosnia (1)1998-99 
			  Op Resolute Kosovo (1)2001 
			  Op Telic 1 Iraq 2003 
			  Op Tosca Cyprus 2003-04 
			  Op Telic 7 Iraq 2005-06 
			  Op Telic 11 Iraq (1)2007-08 
			  Op Herrick 8 Afghanistan (1)2008 
			  Op Telic 12 Iraq (1)2008 
			 
			  4 Regt RA
			 AS90 (Heavy) Op Agricola Macedonia and Kosovo 1999 
			  Op Tosca Cyprus (1)2001 
			  Op Fresco UK 2002-03 
			  Op Banner Northern Ireland 2003 
			  Op Telic 5 Iraq 2004-05 
			  Op Tosca Cyprus 2006 
			  Op Herrick 7 Afghanistan 2007-08 
			 
			  19 Regt RA
			 AS90 (Heavy) Op Agricola Macedonia and Kosovo (1)1999 
			  Op Palatine Bosnia 2000 
			  Op Fingal Afghanistan (1)2002 
			  Op Banner Northern Ireland (1)2003 
			  Op Telic 6 Iraq 2005 
			  Op Herrick 6 Afghanistan 2007 
			 
			  26 Regt RA
			 AS90 (Heavy) Op Agricola Kosovo 1999-2000 
			  Op Palatine Bosnia (1)2000-01 
			  Op Agricola Kosovo (1)2000-01 
			  Op Telic 1 Iraq (1)2003 
			  Op Telic 3 Iraq 2003-04 
			  Op Tosca Cyprus 2004-05 
			  Op Telic 8 Iraq (1)2006 
			  Op Herrick 9 Afghanistan (1)2008-09 
			  Op Telic 13 Iraq (1)2008-09 
		
	
	
		
			  Light artillery units 
			  Unit  Operation name  Location  Date 
			  29 Cdo Regt RA
			 L118 (Light) Op Silkman Sierra Leone 2000 
			  Op Jacana Afghanistan 2001 
			  Op Telic 1 Iraq 2003 
			  Op Herrick 5 Afghanistan 2006-07 
			  Op Herrick 9 Afghanistan 2008-09 
			 
			  40 Regt RA
			 L118 (Light) Op Banner Bosnia 1999 
			  Op Agricola Macedonia and Kosovo 2001 
			  Op Telic 1 Iraq (1)2003 
			  Op Telic 2 Iraq 2003 
			  Op Tosca Cyprus 2004 
			  Op Telic 9 Iraq 2006-07 
			 
			  7 Para RHA
			 L118 (Light) Op Banner Northern Ireland 1999-2000 
			  Op Agricola Macedonia and Kosovo 1999 
			  Op Silkman Sierra Leone (1)2000 
			  Op Agricola Macedonia and Kosovo (1)2001 
			  Op Jacana Afghanistan 2001-02 
			  Op Telic 1 Iraq 2003 
			  Op Agricola Kosovo (1)2004-05 
			  Op Herrick 4 Afghanistan 2006 
			  Op Herrick 8 Afghanistan 2008 
			 (1) Elements of regiment deployed 
		
	
	All deployments are at Regimental Scale of Effort unless otherwise specified.

Departmental Land

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) estimated monetary value,  (b) location and  (c) size is of each land asset owned by his Department.

Kevan Jones: Details of all land owned by the Ministry of Defence are held on a property database, including the last valuation based on the rolling five year revaluation programme undertaken by the Department. Valuations are stated at either replacement cost or existing use value rather than market or sale value and thus do not take account of the possibility of any development potential or any costs associated with the decontamination of the land.
	An extract has been taken from the database and will be placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Public Relations

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East (James Duddridge) of 11 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1000W, on departmental public relations, which areas of work and projects the external public relations firm worked on; and for what reasons such work was not conducted in-house.

Kevan Jones: I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence gave on 22 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1673W.

Gulf War: Veterans

Michael Mates: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will commission further research into the diagnosis and treatment of Gulf War veterans' illnesses; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The Medical Research Council (MRC) has provided independent advice on our Gulf research programme. In 2003, the Ministry of Defence asked the MRC to undertake an independent scientific review of all the UK research work that has been carried out into Gulf veterans' illnesses in an international context and to advise on whether there are any areas appropriate for future research. The MRC's recommendations were published on 22 May 2003 and are available at:
	www.mrc.ac.uk/index.htm.
	A key recommendation was that future research work should focus on improving the long-term health of veterans with persistent symptoms and proposals on rehabilitation therapies were sought. A contract for research into ways of rehabilitating unwell Gulf veterans was awarded to an expert group at Cardiff University last summer and work is expected to be complete by April 2012. In the event of any new research proposals being made that would add to our knowledge on Gulf health issues then the Ministry of Defence will consider funding any proposal for research which has been formally considered and approved by the MRC.

HMS Plymouth

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will seek to provide an open berth for HMS Plymouth in a British port.

Bob Ainsworth: The former HMS Plymouth is a privately owned vessel. While the Ministry of Defence would always wish to see a dignified and appropriate use for the vessel, it has no practical role in her placement or usage.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether HMS Richmond will be deployed to duties pertaining to the arms embargo on the Gaza Strip before Operation Telic ends.

Bob Ainsworth: We are considering the provision of naval resources to counter the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. No decisions have yet been taken.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether Lockheed Martin have been asked to postpone the completion date for the Joint Strike Fighter.

Quentin Davies: We have never asked Lockheed Martin to postpone the completion date for JSF. We have not even declared an In Service Date for this programme in the UK and will only do so when the programme is sufficiently mature. We are one of nine participant nations in the JSF programme and its completion date cannot be determined by one participant in isolation.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the Joint Strike Fighter to enter service.

Quentin Davies: We will not be setting in-service dates for the Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) until we take the main investment decision, and we will take that decision when the project is sufficiently mature. The Joint Strike Fighter remains our preferred solution to meet the JCA requirement and our current plans for JCA remain coherent with the CVF programme.

Mass Media

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of his Department's contracts with press monitoring services was in each of the last five years.

Kevan Jones: Information is only available for the last four financial years. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 12 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1177W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox).

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of helicopter pilots did not undertake the required 15 hours individual flying training per month in the last year.

Bob Ainsworth: NATO guidance recommends that helicopter aircrew undertake 15 hours flying training per month in order to maintain competency. While this is an accepted guideline across the MOD it is not interpreted as an absolute requirement for Army and RAF helicopter pilots.
	Information on individual flying training hours for Army and RAF helicopters is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, Royal Navy regulations require that Royal Navy helicopter pilots undertake 15 hours flying training per month. Figures for the number and proportion of Royal Navy pilots who did not complete 15 hours training per month in the last year are shown in the following table.
	
		
			Sea King force  
			   Merlin force  SK5  SK7  Lynx force 
			  2008  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 January 14 31 17 65 2 16 10 20 
			 February 14 32 3 12 0 0 7 14 
			 March 13 30 14 50 3 24 7 14 
			 April 11 24 1 3 3 24 11 22 
			 May 14 31 5 17 2 16 8 16 
			 June 14 30 3 10 3 24 4 8 
			 July 14 30 2 7 2 16 7 14 
			 August 28 61 6 23 9 72 23 47 
			 September 5 11 1 4 4 21 3 6 
			 October 11 24 2 7 1 7 5 10 
			 November 7 15 4 15 6 42 5 10 
			 December 18 40 6 21 5 35 11 22 
			  Note: These figures only represent the data requested in the question and do not reflect the number of aircrew in current flying practice and therefore ready for duty. Three month rolling currency requirement and currency checks ensure the number of aircrew ready for duty is maximised.

Somalia: Piracy

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Royal Navy assets will form the UK contribution to CTF-151, broken down by asset type.

Bob Ainsworth: HMS Portland will conduct counter-piracy missions around the Horn of Africa, as and when required, through the newly established Combined Task Force 151. HMS Portland will also continue to carry out broader maritime security operations through Combined Task Force 150, which operates in the same region.
	We continue to work with our international partners to ensure all activities are co-ordinated through the UK maritime component command in Bahrain and the EU operation headquarters at Northwood.

Submarines: Training

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many armed forces personnel have received  (a) wet training and  (b) dry training at the submarine escape training tank at Gosport in (i) each year from 2005 to 2007 and (ii) each month since January 2008.

Bob Ainsworth: The numbers of armed forces personnel who completed wet and dry training at the submarine escape training tank at Gosport for the period requested are as follows:
	
		
			   UK wet qual.  UK wet requal.  UK dry qual.  UK dry requal.  Foreign wet 
			  Year  
			 2005 395 165  207 40 
			 2006 363 278  218 90 
			 2007 245 336  236 61 
			  Month  
			 January 2008 20 33  27  
			 February 2008 39 17  45  
			 March 2008 27 19  28 16 
			 April 2008 34 18  19  
			 May 2008 41 9  36 56 
			 June 2008 29 17  32 40 
			 July 2008 43 23  59 22 
			 August 2008  
			 September 2008   64 57  
			 October 2008   87 33  
			 November 2008   34 41 43 
			 December 2008   35 29 14 
			 January 2009   21 28  
		
	
	Wet training refers to those individuals who complete pressurised ascents during the training course. The figures given for dry training are for those trainees who only complete the non-pressurised elements of the course, this includes tower acquaint drills and surface survival.
	Qualifying trainees would have undertaken, in order, 2 x 9 m buoyant exhaling ascents, 1 x 18 m buoyant exhaling ascent and 1 x 30 m suited ascent. Those trainees requalifying conducted, in order, 1 x 30 m suited ascent and 1 x 9 m buoyant exhaling ascent.
	The information provided for foreign students undertaking wet training during November and December 2008 relates to training provided under a contract which had been agreed prior to the Royal Navy's decision to suspend such training.

Territorial Army: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) required and  (b) actual number of personnel in each corps of the Territorial Army is; and what the percentage shortfall for each corps is.

Bob Ainsworth: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 November 2008,  Official Report, column 780W.
	Defence Analytical Services and Advice figures as at 1 September 2008 show the overall Territorial Army liability requirement as 34,620 and the strength as 28,890 personnel. This represents an overall percentage shortfall of 16.5 per cent.
	Figures for each corps of the Territorial Army are not held in the format requested.

Territorial Army: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of the trained strength personnel complement of the Territorial Army were unavailable for deployment under his Department's policy of deploying individuals for one year in every five  (a) at the latest date for which figures are available and  (b) in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: As at 12 December 2008, approximately 6,600 Territorial Army personnel were unavailable for further deployment, in line with the Department's policy of deploying individuals for one year in every five following operational deployments. This figure represents approximately 38 per cent. of the trained Territorial Army strength.
	In the past five years (January 2003-April 2008) more than 15,000 Territorial Army personnel have deployed on operations. Accordingly, each period of individual service has attracted an exemption from additional service in the following five year period.

Tristar Aircraft

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2008,  Official Report, column 554W, on TriStar aircraft, when the process of fitting glass cockpits to the RAF Tristar fleet is due to commence.

Quentin Davies: The trial installation on the first aircraft is already under way and is due to be completed in May 2009.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bosnia: Politics and Government

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the terms of the Odzak agreement signed on 8 November 2008 in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

David Miliband: The Odzak agreement sends a positive signal and demonstrates that common ground can be found between the political parties. The agreement covers important issues, including constitutional reform and some of the requirements for closure of the Office of the High Representative.
	We urge all political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina to build a wider consensus which will lead to concrete follow up to the agreement.

Burma: Human Rights

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government has taken in  (a) the UN Security Council,  (b) the UN Human Rights Council,  (c) the UN General Assembly and  (d) other United Nations bodies on the sentencing of pro-democracy activists in Burma in November 2008.

Bill Rammell: The UK has consistently supported firm action in all relevant UN bodies on human rights abuses perpetrated by the Burmese regime. We played an important role in securing a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly on 21 November 2008. The resolution called on the Burmese authorities to desist from further politically motivated arrests and release, without delay or conditions, of all political prisoners, including the 88 Generation group leaders and others detained as the result of the autumn 2007 protests.
	On 5 December 2008, the UK Permanent Representative to the UN underlined the UK's deep concern at the harsh sentencing of opposition activists at a meeting of the Group of Friends, chaired by the UN Secretary General. The UK will continue to work with partners in New York to keep Burma on the Security Council agenda.
	The UN Human Rights Council has not been in session since this latest round of sentencing began, but the UK will raise the issue as a priority at the Council's 10(th) session in March.

Burma: Political Prisoners

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the access of Red Cross officials to political prisoners in Burma following the partial lifting of restrictions by the government of Burma; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: We have received no reports that the International Committee of the Red Cross has been permitted to visit any political prisoners since 2005, despite our consistent calls for this much needed access through the Security Council, UN human rights bodies, the EU and directly to the Burmese authorities.
	Over 200 opposition activists have been given severe sentences since November 2008, some with prison terms of up to 105 years, and placed in prisons in remote parts of the country away from the support of their families. This brings the total number of political prisoners in Burma to over 2,200.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Answer of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1794W, on departmental training, what personal training courses at public expense other Ministers in his Department have undertaken since 1 January 2008.

Gillian Merron: As well as the training received by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary detailed in my reply of 26 November 2008,  Official Report, column 1794W, from January to July 2008, my hon. Friend the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, received training in the Spanish language.
	No personal training courses have been undertaken by the other Ministers in this Department since 1 January 2008.

Departmental Work Experience

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many individuals have worked in his Department on  (a) paid and  (b) unpaid work experience or internships in each of the last three years; on average how many hours a week were worked by such people in each year; what types of work each was involved in; what proportion were in full-time education; what proportion did not complete their set period of work experience; and how much those who received remuneration were paid on average per week in each year.

Gillian Merron: The following tables provide information on how many individuals have worked in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and FCO Services, a Trading Fund of the FCO, on paid and unpaid work experience or internship placements in each of the last three years.
	
		
			  FCO 
			   Paid  Un paid  Average hours worked per week 
			 2006 38 10 36 
			 2007 39 10 36 
			 2008 51 10 36 
		
	
	
		
			  FCO Services 
			   Paid  Un paid  Average hours worked  per week 
			 2006 0 16 14:48 over two days 
			 2007 0 16 14:48 over two days 
			 2008 0 16 14:48 over two days 
		
	
	Work experience students work on projects and areas associated with various FCO departments. This could include writing briefs and research work.
	Of the 158 individuals undertaking work experience at the FCO, 138 were still in full-time education, 20 were recent graduates. All individuals undertaking work experience at FCO Services were in full-time education.
	We do not hold statistics on the proportion of individuals who completed their set period of work experience in 2006 and 2007. All individuals completed their periods of work experience in 2008.
	Individuals on the FCO's undergraduate work placement scheme are given allowances to cover hotel accommodation, travel and expenses. In 2006, these averaged 321 per week. In 2007 and 2008 this average increased to 341 per week.

Diplomatic Service: Public Appointments

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK  (a) embassies,  (b) high commissions and  (c) other overseas missions have a politically-appointed head of mission.

Gillian Merron: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has two political appointees as high commissioner:
	The right hon. Paul Boateng, high commissioner in South Africa, took up the post in June 2005.
	The right hon. Helen Liddell, high commissioner in Australia, took up the post in July 2005.

India: Human Rights

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the Answer of 27 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 532-3W, whether the next EU-India Human Rights Dialogue will take place before the end of 2008; and what subjects are on the agenda for the next dialogue.

Bill Rammell: We had hoped the EU/India Human Rights Dialogue would take place before the end of 2008. We now understand that it is due to take place in 2009, although the date has not yet been finalised by the EU presidency and the Indian government.
	We expect religious freedom and minority rights in India, including the recent attacks in Orissa state, to be included on the agenda.

Iran: Diplomatic Relations

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on holding high-level direct discussions with the government of Iran.

Bill Rammell: We are fully prepared to engage Iran in direct discussions. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has met his Iranian counterpart on several occasions. These discussions allow us to make clear that we want a constructive relationship with Iran, but that this depends on its addressing issues of serious concern to the international community, including its nuclear ambitions and its failure to live up to its international human rights commitments.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings Ministers in his Department have had at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with groups of British Muslims on events in Gaza since 27 December 2008; and what the names were of the individuals who attended each meeting.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 27 January 2009
	Since 27 December 2008 the following meetings have been held:
	On 6 January 2009 my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (PUSS) at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and I met with representatives and individuals from a number of organisations including the Quilliam Foundation, Muslim Council of Britain, British Muslim Forum, the Sufi Muslim Council, the Al Khoei Foundation, the UK Ismaili Council and the Ithna Asheri Khoja Shia World Federation.
	On 8 January 2009 we met with members of the Muslim Women's Advisory Group.
	On 12 January 2009 my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and Communities Secretary met with representatives and individuals from a number of organisations including the Quilliam Foundation, Muslim Council of Britain, British Muslim Forum, the City Circle, British Muslims for a Secular Democracy, the Sufi Muslim Council, the Al Khoei Foundation, the UK Ismaili Council and the Ithna Asheri Khoja Shia World Federation.
	On 13 January 2009 my hon. Friend the PUSS at DCLG and I met with members of the Young Muslims Advisory Group.

Palestinians: Detainees

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Israeli Government on the detention without trial of elected members of the Palestinian Parliament.

Bill Rammell: We continue to restate our call for all elected Palestinian Legislative Council members detained by Israel to be either released or subject to due legal process.

Sri Lanka: Press Freedom

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Government on the development of independent human rights reporting in Sri Lanka.

Bill Rammell: In March 2008, my noble Friend, the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, made clear at the UN Human Rights Council UK support for a stronger mandate and presence for the UN human rights mission in Sri Lanka directly with the Sri Lankan Government. He also raised this during his visit to Sri Lanka in July 2008. We continue to emphasise the need for independent human rights reporting in our regular contacts with the Sri Lankan Government.

Sri Lanka: Press Freedom

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment of press freedom in northern Sri Lanka is; and what recent reports he has received of threats to the personal safety of journalists operating in the region.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the Written ministerial statement on Sri Lanka by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, 21 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 29-32WS.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Catering

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what  (a) directly-operated and  (b) franchised catering outlets his Department and its agencies provide for staff.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office provides directly operated catering facilities for staff at Stormont House, Maghaberry Prison, Magilligan Prison, Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre and the Prison Service college in Millisle, and franchised catering outlets for staff at the Northern Ireland Forensic Science Agency. Staff from the Department also have access to franchised catering facilities at Castle buildings and Dundonald house in Belfast and at its office in Millbank, London, which are shared and managed by other Departments and Agencies.

Departmental Travel

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, column 882W, on departmental travel, how much was spent by his Department's  (a) agencies and  (b) executive non-departmental public bodies on (i) staff travel within the UK and (ii) international staff travel in the last 12 months.

Shaun Woodward: Northern Ireland Office (NIO) agencies spent 1,772,000 in the last 12 months on staff travel. Of this total 5,000 has been identified as international travel.
	More than 1,400,000 of this expenditure related to the Northern Ireland Prison Service, their main costs in this area came from training days and staff transfers:
	Almost 9,000 training places were filled by staff at the Prison Service college for which they could reclaim travel expenses. The training college is based in Millisle which is a round trip of 182 and 78 miles respectively from the two main establishments which are Magilligan and Maghaberry. The other operational establishments are Hydebank Wood based in Bangor and PECCS which is also based in Maghaberry;
	Excess fares are payable to staff that have been transferred to an establishment which is further from their home address than the one from which they are being transferred, this is payable for a three year period if the official remains in their new establishment.
	Information for the Northern Ireland Office's executive non-departmental public bodies is an operational matter for each of the bodies, who operate independently of Government. I would encourage the hon. Member to write to the respective chief executives. Details of the NIO's non-departmental public bodies can be found in the NIO 2008 Departmental Report:
	http://www.nio.gov.uk/northern_ireland_office_departmental _ report_2008.pdf.

Fire Services: Resignations

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons five officers resigned from the proposed dedicated road rescue team of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service to be established on 1 February 2009.

Paul Goggins: This is a devolved matter which is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Offensive Weapons: Crime Prevention

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to hold a knife amnesty in Northern Ireland.

Paul Goggins: Although there are no plans to hold another knife amnesty in the near future in Northern Ireland, I am currently developing a knife awareness campaign on the dangers of carrying knives. The campaign will be focused on young people and will launch in the next couple of months.

Parades

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with  (a) political representatives and  (b) the Parades Commission on the 2009 parades season in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: The disclosure of the information requested would be prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs. In the course of my duties I have discussions with a range of people and organisations to discuss various issues, such as, parading in Northern Ireland.

Police: Recruitment

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2009, on police recruitment in Northern Ireland, whether the 50/50 recruitment policy will be ended when the 30 per cent. Roman Catholic recruitment figure is reached if that takes place before 2011.

Paul Goggins: We are committed to reaching 30 per cent. Catholic composition within the PSNI regulars. When this target is reached the temporary provisions will lapse.

Prisoner Escapes

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners in Northern Ireland have absconded in each of the last five years; and how long each spent at large either  (a) to date or  (b) before being apprehended.

Paul Goggins: Since 2004, six prisoners have absconded and not yet returned to custody (one in 2004, one in 2006, one in 2007 and three in 2008).
	The following tables provide a breakdown by calendar year of all prisoners who have absconded and returned to custody from 2007 to date. Prior to 1 January 2007 the specific time periods of absence for those abscondees who returned to custody are not available on a central record. To answer this question for those years would incur disproportionate costs.
	 Calendar year 2007
	In 2007 a total of 26 prisoners absconded of which one remains unlawfully at large (UAL).
	
		
			  Numbers of prisoners  (a) Number of days spent from UAL  to date  (b) Number of days from UAL to apprehension 
			 7  0 
			 2  1 
			 4  2 
			 1  1 
			 1  5 
			 2  9 
			 1  10 
			 1  11 
			 1  12 
			 1  13 
			 1  31 
			 1  45 
			 1  298 
			 1  310 
			 1 751  
			
			 Total prisoners: 26 Total prisoners still UAL: 1 Total prisoners returned to custody: 25 
		
	
	 Calendar year 2008
	In 2008 a total of 36 prisoners absconded of which three remain unlawfully at large (UAL).
	
		
			  Numbers of prisoners  (a) Number of days spent from UAL to date  (b) Number of days from UAL to apprehension 
			 12  0 
			 7  1 
			 2  2 
			 2  4 
			 2  5 
			 1  6 
			 1  7 
			 1  9 
			 1  14 
			 1  16 
			 1  21 
			 1 25  
			 1  25 
			 1  30 
			 1 37  
			  307  
			
			 Total prisoners: 36 Total prisoners still UAL: 3 Total prisoners returned to custody: 33 
		
	
	 Calendar year 2009
	In 2009 a total of two prisoners absconded. Both prisoners are now in prison custody.
	
		
			  Numbers of prisoners  (a) Number of days spent from UAL  to date  (b) Number of days from UAL to apprehension 
			 1  0 
			 1  4 
			
			 Total prisoners: 2 Total prisoners still UAL: 0 Total prisoners returned to custody: 2

Sexual Offences: Prisoners Release

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people who had been convicted of a sexual offence in Northern Ireland since 2005 were subjected to MASRAM supervision after release and were subsequently found guilty of a further offence.

Paul Goggins: In 2005, the latest year for which re-conviction data can be made available, 71 persons were released from immediate custody or disposed of by a community sentence for a sexual offence. All cases would have been risk assessed and managed under the MASRAM arrangements. The latest figures show none of these persons were re-convicted of a further sexual offence within a two year period.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Leader of the House what her Office's average response time to a letter received from  (a) an hon. Member and  (b) a member of the public was in each of the last three years.

Chris Bryant: The information requested is not available in precisely the form requested.
	However, we aim to respond to correspondence from hon. Members and peers within 15 working days. In 2008, the Leader's Office answered 94 per cent. of correspondence from hon. Members and peers within deadline. In 2007 this was 94 per cent. and in 2006, 95 per cent.
	The Office aims to respond to correspondence from members of the public within 20 working days. In 2008, the Leader's Office answered 96 per cent. of correspondence from members of the public within deadline. In 2007 this was 90 per cent. and in 2006, 95 per cent.

Mass Media

Grant Shapps: To ask the Leader of the House what the cost of her Office's contracts with press monitoring services was in each of the last five years.

Chris Bryant: The press monitoring services for the Leader's Office are provided by the Cabinet Office and costs are therefore not identifiable separately.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Belize: Overseas Aid

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid his Department provided to Belize in each of the last 20 years, expressed in today's prices.

Michael Foster: Details on Official Development Assistance (ODA) can be found on the OECD Development Assistance Committee's (DAC) website at
	www.oecd.org/dac/stats/idsoniine.
	The relevant figures are reproduced in the following table.
	
		
			  Total foreign Aid to Belize , 1988 to 2007 
			  $USD millions, constant prices (2007) 
			 1988 40.6 
			 1989 44.3 
			 1990 43.7 
			 1991 30.7 
			 1992 34.2 
			 1993 42.6 
			 1994 41.0 
			 1995 22.7 
			 1996 26.5 
			 1997 17.9 
			 1998 19.5 
			 1999 62.3 
			 2000 21.0 
			 2001 31.1 
			 2002 30.8 
			 2003 13.8 
			 2004 8.1 
			 2005 12.2 
			 2006 7.6 
			 2007 21.7

Burma: Overseas Aid

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of British aid to Burma is delivered via cross-border mechanisms.

Michael Foster: Approximately 569,000, 4.6 per cent. of DFID's 12.5 million regular programme for Burma in 2008-09 (excluding 45 million emergency relief following Cyclone Nargis) is being delivered via cross-border mechanisms. This figure breaks down as follows:
	193,000 of DFID's 1 million funding to the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) in 2008-09 has been allocated to cross-border humanitarian activities. Since DFID's contribution to TBBC was not earmarked to specific activities, this proportion reflects TBBC's own priorities.
	DFID is contributing about 300,000 in 2008-09 to cross-border health assistance to Kachin and Shan States from China.
	Around 76,000 of 220,000 provided to three Burmese non-governmental organisations based in Thailand is being used for humanitarian work inside Burma. The remainder of this funding is used to assist Burmese refugees and migrants in Thailand.

Community Relations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funds his Department contributed to local authority Preventing Violent Extremism projects in 2008, broken down by local authority; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development did not contribute any funds in 2008 to any local authorities for programmes on preventing violent extremism.

Corporate Communications

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Selby of 6 February 2007,  Official Report, column 767W, on public relations, if he will place in the Library a copy of the corporate communications strategy provided by the firm Corporate Communications.

Michael Foster: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr. Mitchell) on 14 January 2009,  Official Report, column 832W.

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's average response time to a letter received from  (a) an hon. Member and  (b) a member of the public was in each of the last three years.

Michael Foster: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members' correspondence. The report for 2007 was published on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 71-74WS. Information for 2008 is currently being collated and will be published as soon as it is ready. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.
	DFID does not routinely collate data on average time taken to respond to letters from members of the public, and this information cannot be provided within the disproportionate cost limit.
	DFID aims to respond to all written correspondence from members of the public within 15 working days. Information on DFID's performance against this target in 2008 is currently being collated and will be published in our 2009 Annual Report. Data for 2007 can be found in our Annual Report, section 10.12, at
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/Pubs/files/departmental-report/2008/Chapter10.pdf.
	Data for 2006 were not published. However in that year DFID's Public Enquiry Point handled 1,754 letters, of which 88 per cent. were answered within the 15 day target.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the initial estimated  (a) cost and  (b) delivery date was of each ICT project initiated by his Department in each year since 1997; what the (i) outturn cost and (ii) completion date was of each such project subsequently completed; which contractors were hired for each project; and how much has been paid to each contractor in respect of each project to date.

Michael Foster: The ASSIST 2000 programme began in 1999 and completed in June 2004. The total cost of the programme was 4.32 million. The primary contractor was Methods Application Ltd and the contracted cost was 1.33 million.
	The Human Resources Database project began in 2001-02. The initial estimated cost and delivery date was 1.18 million and March 2004 respectively. The project was completed in March 2004 at a cost of 1.22 million. The primary contractor was RebusSoftware Limited (now Northgate-Arinso) and the contracted cost was 1.22 million.
	The Quest Electronic Document and Records Management (EDRMS) project began in 2001-02. The initial estimated cost and delivery date was 8.98 million and December 2005 respectively. The project was completed in March 2006 at a cost of 11.68 million, which included additional options available under the original contract. The primary contractor was LogicaCMG (now Logica) and the contracted cost was 11.68 million.
	The PRISM (Performance Reporting Information System for Management) programme began in 2001-02. The cost at completion was 1.14 million and the programme was completed by March 2005. The programme was carried out largely using in-house resources.
	The ARIES Finance, Procurement and Reporting System began in 2004. The initial estimated supplier base cost was 11 million, the initial estimated delivery date was October 2008. The current expected completion date is September 2009 with an estimated supplier cost of 17.6 million. This estimate reflects agreed changes to the scope of the project, a software upgrade, additional consultancy support for change management, development of end-user training materials, and assistance with training and rollout. The primary contractor is Agresso Ltd.
	The HR transformation project started in March 2005 and was completed on time in March 2008. The original budget was 6.5 million and the cost on completion was 6.0 million This was primarily a business change project but included a number of smaller IT components.
	The Desktop Refresh project started in 2005 and was completed on time in March 2006. The cost at completion was 1.87 million. The project was carried out using in-house resources and equipment was purchased from Hewlett Packard Ltd.
	The Laptop Refresh project started in October 2007 and was completed on time in December 2008. The original budget was 1.8 million and the final outturn was 1.7 million. The project was carried out by DFID staff and equipment was purchased from Dell Ltd.
	The Web Transformation project began in December 2007 and is on track to complete in July 2009. The original projected budget was 2.0 million and the current forecast is 2.5 million. The project is managed in-house but uses a range of smaller contractors.
	The Knowledge and Information Management Programme began in 2008. The project is at an early stage but is on track to complete in March 2011. The original cost estimate of 6.8 million is still accurate. This programme is managed in-house but uses a range of smaller contractors.
	The Information Technology Infrastructure Programme (ITIP) began in 2007 and is on track to complete in March 2011. The original estimate of 5.0 million is still accurate. This programme is managed in-house but uses a range of smaller contractors.
	DFID has also let a number of small IT related contracts. However, our central records do not distinguish IT contracts, so provision of details for these projects would incur disproportionate costs.

Departmental Surveys

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much his Department's central media and communication unit spent on public surveys in each of the last three years.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development's (DFID) expenditure on public surveys in the last three financial years is as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Expenditure () 
			 2005-06 56,532 
			 2006-07 56,711 
			 2007-08 403,742 
		
	
	The major items of spending in 2007-08 relate to the development of an audience segmentation model for international developmentas per good practice advocated by the Government Communications Network. This is being used to inform future communications strategy. Further details of this were given in the answer to the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 658W.

Malaria

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department is providing for  (a) research into and  (b) prevention of malaria; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing 10 million to the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), which is a product development partnership developing new drugs for malaria. A further 6.5 million is being provided to the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi). The DNDi is also a product development partnership developing new drugs for a number of neglected tropical diseases, including malaria. DNDi launched two new fixed dose artemisinin combination drugs in 2007 and 2008 and to date over one million courses of these drugs have been distributed in developing countries.
	Two research programme consortia on communicable diseases, including malaria, are also supported by DFID. They are led by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Nuffield Institute for International Health at Leeds University. Each of these consortia will receive a total of 5 million over five years.
	DFID supports work on malaria prevention through its support to international organisations such as the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the World Bank all of whom have programmes on malaria. In addition support is being provided to global health partnerships such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), UNITAID, and the Roll Back Malaria Partnership. DFID has made a commitment to provide 1 billion to the GFATM from 2008 to 2015. DFID is also providing support for prevention through our country programmes, which includes a commitment to provide 20 million insecticide treated bed nets over three years made by the Prime Minister in 2008.

Official Cars

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what cars are  (a) owned,  (b) leased,  (c) hired and  (d) otherwise regularly used by his Department, broken down by cubic capacity of engine.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend, the Transport Secretary, on 26 January 2009,  Official Report, column 10W.

Overseas Aid

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much official development assistance was  (a) pledged and  (b) spent by the Government in each year since 2004; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: Details on UK official development assistance (ODA) for 2004-07 are available in Table 7 of the DFID publication 'Statistics on International Development 2008'. This publication is available in the Library and online at www.dfid.gov.uk. The 2008 figures will be published in April. The UK remains committed to achieving a 0.7 per cent. ODA to gross national income (GNI) ratio by 2013. The 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review also put the Government on track to achieve a 0.56 per cent. ODA/GNI ratio by 2010.

Sri Lanka: Internally Displaced Persons

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 21 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 30-31WS, on Sri Lanka, when he expects a humanitarian expert from his Department to visit Sri Lanka to assess the distribution of aid to assist internally displaced persons in northern Sri Lanka; and when he expects to publish the expert's report.

Michael Foster: An humanitarian assessment mission will visit Sri Lanka from 16-26 February. The findings of the report will subsequently be placed in the Library of the House.

Sri Lanka: Internally Displaced Persons

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Sri Lankan Government on access for an independent group to carry out an assessment of the humanitarian needs of internally displaced persons in northern Sri Lanka.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) Ministers have discussed the need for an independent assessment of the humanitarian situation in their recent engagements with Sri Lankan officials. I raised the issue with the Sri Lankan high commissioner on 4 December. My hon. Friend, the Minister of State (Mr. Thomas) also discussed the humanitarian situation with the high commissioner on 26 November.
	Diplomatic efforts are ongoing at the highest level. My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister has written to President Rajapakse to express his concerns at the humanitarian situation, including the need for a full independent assessment to be carried out. The British high commissioner in Colombo also regularly presses for increased humanitarian access and the need for an independent needs assessment in his contacts with Government officials at senior levels, including with the President.

PRIME MINISTER

10 Downing Street: Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Prime Minister what the staffing costs of No. 10 Downing Street were in 2007-08; and what the budget for such costs is for 2008-09.

Gordon Brown: The total staff costs for the Office for the most recent financial years are set out in the following table.
	
		
			million 
			 2006-07 11.6 
			 2007-08 11.5 
		
	
	Figures for the financial year 2008-09 are not yet available.

Cabinet

Greg Hands: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the costs of policing provided for the Cabinet meeting in Liverpool on 8 January 2009;
	(2)  how much was spent from public funds on  (a) lunch and  (b) refreshments for those attending the Cabinet meeting held in Liverpool on 8 January 2009;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of holding the meeting of the Cabinet in Leeds on 28 November 2008;
	(4)  how much was spent on  (a) lunch and  (b) refreshments for those attending the Cabinet meeting held in Leeds on 28 November 2008;
	(5)  how much was spent on police protection for the Cabinet meeting held in Leeds on 28 November 2008;
	(6)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of holding the meeting of the Cabinet in Liverpool on 8 January 2009.

Dai Davies: To ask the Prime Minister what the additional security cost has been for each Cabinet meeting held outside 10 Downing Street since January 2008.

Gordon Brown: The visit of the Cabinet to Leeds on 28 November was linked with a number of ministerial visits across the region; there was a public engagement event with around 220 people which was followed by a formal Cabinet meeting. There are no separate figures for the Cabinet meeting. The cost of the public engagement event and the Cabinet meeting was approximately 57,190, excluding VAT. The figure includes the cost of hiring the venue, catering, associated security and search equipment, delegate management and rail travel for both staff and Ministers. In addition, Departments and agencies will have incurred costs in terms of staff time and other support. The cost of any security provided by the police is a matter for the relevant police force. The cost of the public engagement event and Cabinet in Liverpool on 8 January will be published once figures are available.
	In addition, I have placed in the Library of the House the Response to Cabinet public engagement event Leeds 2008.

Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Prime Minister what No. 10 Downing Street's average response time to a letter received from  (a) an hon. Member and  (b) a member of the public was in each of the last three years.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 53W.

Sri Lanka

Keith Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 21 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 30-31WS, on Sri Lanka, if he will place in the Library a copy of his letter to President Rajapakse.

Keith Vaz: To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to promote a ceasefire in Sri Lanka since 14 January; what recent discussions he has had with the  (a) German Chancellor and  (b) French President on Sri Lanka; and what recent correspondence he has had with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Members to the written statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 21 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 30-31WS. I have written to President Rajapakse to urge him to increase efforts in relation to the provision of humanitarian assistance; to take action against human rights abuses and set out the need for a political solution. It is not the practice of the Government to make public details of all correspondence and discussions with foreign Governments.
	I discussed a range of issues with Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy and I have also asked my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to work closely with his French and German counterparts on this matter.

JUSTICE

Courts: Witnesses

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what percentage of witnesses in court on Merseyside  (a) applied for and  (b) were granted special measures in giving evidence in the last year for which figures are available; and what assessment has been made of witnesses' views on the special measures available.

Maria Eagle: In 2008 the Crown Court at Liverpool received 806 applications for Special Measures. Of these, 601 or 74.6 per cent. were granted. Of the remaining applications, the majority were in cases in which guilty pleas were entered so there was no need for the application to proceed.
	The number and percentage of successful requests for special measures in the magistrates court and youth court is not held centrally. These figures could not be produced without incurring disproportionate cost.
	In 2004 the Home Office published independent research which found that special measures were working effectively. The study showed that 76 per cent. of witnesses overall were satisfied with special measures. A further breakdown of these statistics for different subgroups of witnesses is available from:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/r240.pdf
	The research also found that one-third of vulnerable or intimidated witnesses would not be able or willing to give evidence without the assistance of special measures. This rose to 44 per cent. where the witness was a victim of a sexual offence.
	Further independent studies include NSPCC research that interviewed 50 young witnesses and concluded that special measures, in particular live links, helped child witnesses who would otherwise have been reluctant to give evidence.
	Our own consultation exercise, 'Improving the Criminal Trial Process for Young Witnesses (2007)' found that where young witnesses used special measures, they had significantly more confidence in the criminal justice system.

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's average response time to a letter received from  (a) an hon. Member and  (b) a member of the public was in each of the last three years.

Bridget Prentice: This information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the Ministry of Justice aims to reply to all written correspondence within 20 working days of receipt. The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members correspondence. The report for 2007 was published on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 71-74WS. Information for 2008 is currently being collated and will be published as soon as it is ready. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Public Consultation

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he will publish the results of his Department's consultation on weekend voting.

Michael Wills: The Election Day: Weekend Voting consultation attracted nearly 1,000 responses. Detailed analysis of the views and evidence provided has taken some time, but good progress is being made. The Government will publish the results as soon as practicable.

Departmental Training

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 30 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1299W, on departmental training, what personal training courses at public expense other Ministers in his Department have undertaken since 1 January 2008.

Michael Wills: Ministers in the Ministry of Justice have attended six Action Learning Set training courses at public expense since 1 January 2008.

Employment Tribunals Service: Damages

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many times employment tribunals awarded costs to a successful applicant in each of the last five years; and what the average award was over that period.

Bridget Prentice: The following table details the number of claimants, who in a successful claim, were awarded costs and the average sum awarded per case for each of the last five years. The information relates only to costs awarded and does not include awards of compensation where a claim has been successful. In addition, the information does not include preparation time orders, in respect of time spent by a party carrying out preparatory work directly relating to the proceedings or conduct of the hearing, made as a consequence of, for example, the postponement of a hearing, or wasted cost orders made against a representative. These details are not available in current management information systems and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
	Costs awarded for 2007-08 are not yet available as the data are being validated before publication.
	
		
			  Costs 
			   Number of applicants awarded  Average award () 
			 2006-07 166 2,079 
			 2005-06 148 2,256 
			 2004-05 281 1,828 
			 2003-04 332 1,859 
			 2002-03 307 1,524

Inquests: Armed Forces

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications for legal aid have been made in order to secure legal representation at inquests into the deaths of armed forces personnel since 2000; and how many have been refused.

Shahid Malik: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for North Thanet (Mr. Gale) on 20 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1332W.
	Applications for exceptional funding are made to the Legal Services Commission (LSC), the independent body which administers the legal aid scheme, in the first instance. Exceptional funding legal aid can be granted by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) on the recommendation of the LSC for representation at inquests, if the exceptional funding criteria are met. The LSC does not break down the number of applications it receives for representation at inquests by category of inquest.
	The MOJ has received applications relating to 16 military inquests since January 2003 and has granted funding for all 16 inquests.
	Neither the Legal Services Commission nor the Ministry of Justice has specific data on military inquests prior to January 2003.

Juries: Mentally Ill

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will review the restrictions which prevent people with mental illness from serving as jurors.

Maria Eagle: We are committed to publishing a consultation paper reviewing the law in this area. We expect to publish it shortly.

Legal Services Ombudsman

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the legal services ombudsman plans to respond to the application of Mrs. Yvonne Randles of Birkenhead made in January 2006.

Jack Straw: The Legal Services Ombudsman (LSO) is independent of Government and therefore it would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases.
	However as the sponsoring department, this particular case has been brought to the attention of the Office of the Legal Services Ombudsman.

Magistrates Courts: Welsh Language

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1126W, on magistrates courts: Welsh language, what the  (a) estimated cost,  (b) expected completion date and  (c) start date for the bilingual version of the Libra IT system is; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1126W, on magistrates courts: Welsh language, how much his Department has spent  (a) in total and  (b) in each month on translating summonses into Welsh since the Libra IT system became operational; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1126W, on magistrates courts: Welsh language, how many requests there have been for summonses to be translated into Welsh  (a) in total and  (b) each month since the Libra IT system became operational, broken down by the smallest geographical area for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what the  (a) estimated (i) cost and (ii) completion date at the project outset,  (b) outturn cost and  (c) completion date of the Libra IT system was; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The estimated cost of the Libra bilingual solution is 4 million. Final contractual papers are yet to be signed so precise figures are not available at this point. This figure represents application development costs and does not include support costs which are on-going for the life of the application.
	The expected completion and start date for the bilingual version of the Libra IT system is September 2009.
	Since the Libra IT system became operational, the Department has spent 425 in total on translating summonses into Welsh. Of this, 80 was spent in August 2008; 165 in December 2008 and 180 in January 2009.
	Since the Libra IT system became operational, there have been 21 requests in total for summonses to be translated into Welsh. The following table shows a breakdown of monthly requests by the smallest geographical area.
	At the project outset (in December 1998), the Libra IT system was
	(i) estimated to (i) cost 184 million and (ii) to complete rollout in July 2001;
	(ii) The outturn cost of the project is 444 million;
	(iii) The date of completion of rollout was 9 December 2008.
	
		
			  Cost of translation of Libra documents into Welsh 
			  Month  Cost () 
			 August 2008 80.00 
			 December 2008 165.00 
			 January 2009 180.00 
			 Total 425.00 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of requests by smallest geographical area 
			  Requests  Mid and  West Wales  North Wales  South Wales 
			 August 2008   1 
			 September 2008
			 October 2008
			 November 2008
			 December 2008 4 4  
			 January 2009 5 6 1 
			 Total 9 10 2

Maintenance

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what target he has set for the maximum duration between a court awarding a maintenance payment and that payment being made; what steps he plans to take to minimise the amount of time taken; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: In family proceedings, the court has power to order periodical payments for maintenance in a variety of situations. The court can order periodical payments to be made for the benefit of a former spouse or civil partner or for the benefit of a child of the family on divorce or on dissolution of a civil partnership. The court can also order payments to be made when a spouse or civil partner has failed to maintain the other party to the marriage or civil partnership or any child of the family. Additionally, the court can also order any parent to make periodical payments for the benefit of a child under schedule 1 to the Children Act 1989.
	When making an order for periodical payments for maintenance, the court can order when the payments shall be made, the amount of the payments to be made and the term for which payments may be made. The court can also order periodical payments to be made on an interim basis before the proceedings are finally resolved. It is not possible to set a target for commencement of payments because the court will determine the appropriate date for the first payment after considering the circumstances of each individual case.
	If the periodical payments ordered by the court are not made, the person entitled to receive the payments under the court order can apply to the court to have the order enforced.

Offenders: Learning Disability

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will introduce systematic screening of offenders for  (a) learning disabilities and  (b) learning difficulties; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The issues of learning disability and learning difficulty are matters where my Department works closely with the Department of Health, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Welsh Assembly Government.
	The National Offender Management Service and the Department of Health are shortly to pilot a simple screening tool aimed at identifying the possibility of a learning disability. The results of piloting in three prisons will then inform plans for implementing a screening tool across all care settings in the criminal justice system.
	In current use with offenders, section 4 of the Offender Assessment System (OASys), assesses level of problems with reading, writing and numeracy and any learning difficulties. OASys is used with offenders sentenced to over 12 months in custody, or on a community sentence, excluding unpaid work.
	Through the Learning and Skills Council, we are broadening the assessment requirement for learning difficulties that is placed on offender learning and skills service providers with effect from August 2009. With Dyslexia Action, the Learning and Skills Council is developing tools to identify additional learning needs and a training programme to support their use by its offender learning and skills service providers' staff. This is a matter also under consideration in Wales.
	For young people in custody, we intend to place statutory duties on local authorities to fund and commission education in juvenile custody (in England and Wales) and this will include legislation relating to those with special educational needs. In the meantime, we are developing training materials on dyslexia and speech, language and communication needs during 2009-10 for those responsible for education of young people in custody.
	To support this greater focus on screening for learning disabilities and difficulties, my Department has worked with the Department of Health to trial a one-day training course for prison officers, aimed increasing awareness of these issues. The training is being rolled out nationally, focused on key staff within each prison: the disability liaison officer; a member of the health care team and a member of the induction team.
	Work is also under way to tailor the awareness package for use in probation areas. The training materials to support the probation training are currently under discussion with roll out of the training planned for later this year.

Prison Radio Service: Finance

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his Department's expenditure on the Prison Radio Service was in 2008-09; and what estimate he has made of such expenditure in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Jack Straw: Forecast expenditure for the National Prison Radio Service is 1.6 million for 2008-09.
	Estimated expenditure for subsequent years is as follows:
	
		
			
			 2009-10 500,000 
			 2010-11 120,000 
		
	
	This investment in set up costs, licences and other costs falls to the Ministry of Justice and enables the significant majority of ongoing service cost delivery to be met by the Prison Radio Association (a registered charity).

Rape: Criminal Proceedings

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the existence and effect of prejudice among  (a) the police,  (b) the Crown Prosecution Service,  (c) criminal lawyers,  (d) the judiciary and  (e) juries towards rape and sexual assault victims.

Alan Campbell: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are determined to tackle the barriers to the successful prosecution of rape cases and set out its plans for doing so in the cross-Government Action Plan on Sexual Violence and Abuse published in 2007.
	No assessment has been made on the existence of prejudice within the criminal justice agencies, the judiciary or juries however action has been taken to ensure that policies on rape investigation and prosecution are translated into practice.

Reparation by Offenders: Fixed Penalties

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will consider the merits of proposals for  (a) appealable community penalties and  (b) reparation fixed penalty notices for minor crimes.

Maria Eagle: Community sentences are available for all offences that also carry imprisonment. The sentence in any individual case is entirely a matter for the court, which can impose a community sentence if it considers the offence serious enough to warrant that but not so serious if the custody is the only proper response. All sentences are appealable.
	Fixed penalty notices are simple non-bureaucratic financial punishments designed to deal with minor crimes on the spot. As their name implies, they are fixed. This concept does not lend itself to reparation. There are alternative, more suitable out-of-court disposals available, such as conditional cautions, where offenders can be required to make reparations such as repairing any damage caused.

Sentencing: Public Opinion

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of public attitudes to prison and alternative sentences.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice conducts its own assessments of public attitudes to prison through perceptual questions contained in the British Crime Survey (BCS).
	Raising public confidence in the criminal justice system (CJS) is one of the Government's key public service agreement (PSA) targets, and is measured through responses given to the BCS. The PSA2 indicator (year ending March 2003 to March 2008) was based on the question
	How confident are you that the criminal justice system is effective in bringing offenders who commit crime to justice?.
	Research by Smith (2007) suggested that people's confidence varied according to which CJS agency they were considering. A copy of the research can be found on the Ministry of Justice website;
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/research070807.htm.
	As part of the process of measuring the new 'Justice for All' public service agreement PSA 24, a new set of questions were developed to measure public perceptions of the 'fairness' and 'effectiveness' of the criminal justice system (CJS). These questions are contained in the British Crime Survey, and respondents are asked about their confidence in each of the individual agencies that comprise the CJS. Two of these questions relate to prisons:
	How confident are you that Prisons are effective at punishing offenders who have been convicted of a crime?
	How confident are you that Prisons are effective at rehabilitating offenders who have been convicted of a crime?
	In addition, a set of questions relating to public perceptions about 'Community payback' have been developed for inclusion in the British Crime Survey for 2009-10.

Supreme Court

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the  (a) original estimated cost and  (b) most recent estimated cost of the new Supreme Court building in London was.

Jack Straw: As announced on 14 June 2007, the estimated set-up costs for the UK Supreme Court are 36.7 million for capital construction, which will be met over a 30-year period through rental payments of 2.1 million per annum, increasing at a rate of 2.5 per cent per annum, plus 20.2 million of other set-up costs (including provision of library, visitor and dining facilities). The only change to this estimate is an additional 2 million for repair work I announced on 3 July 2008,  Official Report, column 59WS, and new security measures. The House will be updated of costs once we have the final figure.

Weights and Measures: Prosecutions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many  (a) convictions and  (b) acquittals there have been in cases where people have been prosecuted for using imperial weights and measures at point of sale in each of the last three years; and what sentence was handed down in respect of each conviction;
	(2)  how many cases are  (a) under investigation and  (b) awaiting trial for alleged use of imperial weights and measures at point of sale; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The available information on convictions and acquittals under the Weights and Measures Act 1985 for offences relating to the weights and measures provisions is provided in the following table.
	It is not possible to identify the number of these convictions and acquittals relating solely to the use of imperial weights and measures from other convictions and acquittals under the Weights and Measures Act 1985.
	Enforcement of weights and measures legislation is undertaken by local authority Trading Standards Departments. Local authorities do not report the number of cases under investigations or awaiting trial under weights and measures legislation to my Department.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts, acquitted at Crown courts, found guilty at all courts and the sentences given under the Weights and Measures Act 1985 for offences related to the weights and measures provisions, England and Wales, 2005 to 2007( 1,2) 
			   2005  2006  2007 
			 Proceeded against 21 15 14 
			 Acquitted
			 Found guilty 17 9 12 
			 Sentenced 17 9 11 
			 Conditionally discharged 2  2 
			 Fined 15 9 7 
			 Otherwise dealt with   2 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.  (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Evidence and Analysis UnitOffice for Criminal Justice Reform.

Witnesses

John Howell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 20 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1345-6W, what means are used to assess the effectiveness of witness intermediaries.

Maria Eagle: The Intermediary Special Measure was piloted in six pathfinder areas and extended nationally after an independent evaluation. The evaluation report indicated that feedback from witnesses and carers was uniformly enthusiastic. Support for intermediaries was almost unanimous across the judiciary and among other criminal justice personnel involved in the pathfinder cases. A summary of the evaluation report is available at:
	http://www.iustice.gov.uk/publications/research120607a.htm
	The full report is available at:
	http://lexiconlimited.co.uk/PDF%20files/Intermediaries _study_report.pdf
	Our intention is that from April 2009 those who commission intermediariesthe police, the CPS and defencewill have the opportunity to provide feedback. This information will be reported to the intermediary governance board on a regular basis and be used to evaluate the service provided by individual intermediaries.

HEALTH

Accidents: Roads

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients were admitted to hospital following road traffic accidents in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not available in the format requested. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr. Lansley) on 10 September 2008,  Official Report, column 1916W. Tables showing the number of people injured in all transport accidents and the number of pedestrians injured in transport accidents respectively have already been placed in the Library.

Departmental Buildings

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on  (a) maintaining,  (b) decorating and  (c) otherwise improving departmental buildings in the last five years; how much has been spent on wallpaper since 2001; and what plans there are for further spending on departmental decoration.

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on  (a) maintaining,  (b) decorating and  (c) otherwise improving departmental buildings in the last five years; how much was spent on wallpaper since 2001; and what plans there are for further spending on departmental decoration.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department and its executive agencies, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and Medical and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has spent the following sums on maintaining, decorating, and otherwise improving departmental buildings.
	
		
			   
			 2003-04 4,135,299 
			 2004-05 6,773,772 
			 2005-06 7,418,915 
			 2006-07 5,679,138 
			 2007-08 3,953,125 
		
	
	It is not possible to separate out the costs of maintaining, decorating and improving buildings.
	There has been no expenditure on wallpaper since 2001.
	Future plans for redecoration are aligned with our overall capital works programme, which is currently under review. Planned expenditure for 2008-09 is 2,343,600.

Departmental Consultants

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of his Department's contracts with management consultants was in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not collect information on contracts with management consultants in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's average response time to a letter received from  (a) an hon. Member and  (b) a member of the public was in each of the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department's average response times to letters received are as follows:
	
		
			  Days 
			   2005  2006  2007 
			 Letters from hon. Members 13 16 16 
			 Letters from members of the public 10 11 11 
		
	
	Figures for 2008 are not yet available.
	The number of letters answered within our Whitehall standard target of responding to 90 per cent. of correspondence within 20 working days is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2005  2006  2007 
			 Letters from hon. Members 91 90 92 
			 Letters from members of the public cases 97 93 99 
		
	
	Figures for 2008 are not yet available.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which ICT projects his Department initiated and abandoned before completion in each year since 1997; what costs were incurred in each project; who the contractors for each were; on what date each was  (a) commenced and  (b) abandoned; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much capital expenditure has been brought forward in response to the economic downturn by his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies to  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11; from which years such expenditure has been brought forward; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government announced in their pre-Budget report (24 November 2008) that as part of the 3 billion fiscal stimulus package the Department would bring forward 100 million of capital spending to advance the upgrading of up to 600 general practitioner surgeries to training practices. This spending is being brought forward from financial year 2010-11 to 2009-10.

Departmental Travel

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what expenditure his Department has incurred in providing transport for Ministers between Parliament and departmental premises in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not collected centrally. Ministers use their official cars in accordance with the 'Ministerial Code', July 2007.

Departmental Written Questions

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy where an answer refers to material published on his Department's website to  (a) make a copy available to the hon. Member who tabled the question and  (b) place a copy of the material in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: It is our practice that documents containing information requested in a parliamentary question are deposited in the Library and a copy provided for the hon. Member. To be helpful to hon. Members, we may refer in a written answer to more general additional information available on a website and this may not be appropriate for deposit.

Departmental Written Statements

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health at what time of day his Department makes written ministerial statements available to  (a) hon. Members and  (b) members of the press; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Written statements are issued from 9.30am and copies are made available to the Press Gallery shortly afterwards. Copies may also be made available to other members of the press on request, and details of a written statement may be repeated in a press notice.

Health Services: Wales

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department plans to reply to the Welsh Affairs Select Committee report on the provision of cross-border health services for Wales.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government's response to the Welsh Affairs Committee was laid before Parliament on 26 January 2009.

Hospitals: Admissions

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of emergency readmissions to hospital in each NHS hospital trust in England occurred within 28 days of discharge in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is not available in precisely the form requested. The available information, from the National Centre for Health Outcomes Development, is contained in the tables 'Emergency readmissions to hospital within 28 days of discharge from hospital', which have been placed in the Library. This gives figures separately for the age groups 0-15 years and 16 years and over, analysed either by primary care trust or by individual hospital trust.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time was for a hospital appointment in each primary care trust in Merseyside in each year since 1995.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not available in the format requested. However, the following table shows the average (median) waiting times for a first out-patient appointment in Merseyside primary care trusts (PCTs), or organisations in existence at the time, in each year since 1997.
	
		
			  Ou t- patients seen 
			   Health authority  Median waiting times (weeks) 
			 1997-98 Liverpool 7.8 
			  Sefton 7.3 
			  St. Helens and Knowsley 6.5 
			  Wirral 7.9 
			
			 1998-99 Liverpool 7.8 
			  Sefton 8.2 
			  St. Helens and Knowsley 7.0 
			  Wirral 8.2 
			
			 1999-2000 Liverpool 8.5 
			  Sefton 8.8 
			  St. Helens and Knowsley 8.3 
			  Wirral 8.4 
			
			 2000-01 Liverpool 8.7 
			  Sefton 9.3 
			  St. Helens and Knowsley 7.8 
			  Wirral 8.3 
			
			 2001-02 Liverpool 7.8 
			  Sefton 7.8 
			  St. Helens and Knowsley 7.1 
			  Wirral 7.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Out - patients seen 
			   PCT  Median waiting times (weeks) 
			 2002-2003 Bebington and West Wirral 7.5 
			  Birkenhead and Wallasey 7.6 
			  Central Liverpool 7.5 
			  Halton 4.9 
			  Knowsley 7.3 
			  North Liverpool 7.5 
			  South Liverpool 7.3 
			  South Sefton 7.3 
			  Southport and Formby 7.7 
			  St. Helens 6.8 
			
			 2003-2004 Bebington and West Wirral 6.7 
			  Birkenhead and Wallasey 6.7 
			  Central Liverpool 7.6 
			  Halton 5.1 
			  Knowsley 7.1 
			  North Liverpool 7.1 
			  South Liverpool 7.6 
			  South Sefton 7.0 
			  Southport and Formby 7.6 
			  St. Helens 7.1 
			
			 2004-2005 Bebington and West Wirral 6.5 
			  Birkenhead and Wallasey 6.3 
			  Central Liverpool 7.7 
			  Halton 5.7 
			  Knowsley 7.2 
			  North Liverpool 7.1 
			  South Liverpool 7.5 
			  South Sefton 7.1 
			  Southport and Formby 7.9 
			  St. Helens 7.2 
			
			 2005-2006 Bebington and West Wirral 6.1 
			  Birkenhead and Wallasey 6.0 
			  Central Liverpool 7.2 
			  Halton 5.3 
			  Knowsley 6.7 
			  North Liverpool 6.7 
			  South Liverpool 7.0 
			  South Sefton 6.5 
			  Southport and Formby 7.0 
			  St. Helens 6.5 
			
			 2006-2007 Halton and St. Helens 5.9 
			  Knowsley 6.6 
			  Liverpool 6.4 
			  Sefton 6.1 
			  Wirral 4.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Out - patients yet to be seen 
			  Month end  PCT  Median waiting times (weeks) 
			 March 2005 Bebington and West Wirral 4.4 
			  Birkenhead and Wallasey 4.6 
			  Central Liverpool 5.2 
			  Halton 4.0 
			  Knowsley 4.6 
			  North Liverpool 4.5 
			  South Liverpool 4.8 
			  South Sefton 4.6 
			  Southport and Formby 5.2 
			  St. Helens 4.3 
			
			 March 2006 Bebington and West Wirral 3.3 
			  Birkenhead and Wallasey 3.7 
			  Central Liverpool 3.9 
			  Halton 3.4 
			  Knowsley 4.0 
			  North Liverpool 3.6 
			  South Liverpool 3.9 
			  South Sefton 3.5 
			  Southport and Formby 3.6 
			  St. Helens 3.6 
			
			 March 2007 Halton and St. Helens 3.3 
			  Knowsley 3.1 
			  Liverpool 3.2 
			  Sefton 3.2 
			  Wirral 2.9 
			
			
			 March 2008 Halton and St. Helens 2.1 
			  Knowsley 2.1 
			  Liverpool 2.1 
			  Sefton 2.4 
			  Wirral 2.2 
			
			 November 2008 Halton and St. Helens 2.1 
			  Knowsley 2.6 
			  Liverpool 2.9 
			  Sefton 2.7 
			  Wirral 2.2 
			  Notes: 1. The average waiting times given are estimated from quarterly and monthly Korner returns submitted by health authorities/PCTs to the Department of Health.  2. Data on waiting times for outpatient appointments was first collected in 1997-98. All patients seen by length of time waited was collected, but only a proportion of the patients not seen. The total number of patients still waiting was first collected in 2004-05. Therefore, to give a meaningful time series data for both seens and not seens have been provided where data was collected. Calculating the average on patients not seen is the preferred method, in line with the method for inpatient waits.  3. The figures show the median waiting times for patients waiting for a first consultant outpatient appointment following a general practitioner referral. Figures relating to patients who have been seen are based on quarterly data aggregated to an annual figure, and the figures relating to patients who have yet to be seen are based on a stock month end figure at the end of the year. Calculations are made on aggregate data, rather than patient level data, and therefore are only estimates of the position on average waits.  4. The median, rather than the mean, is the preferred measure for average waiting times. This is because the mean waiting time can be skewed by small numbers of long waiters, and is therefore higher than the median.  5. Figures are shown for organisations in existence at the time.

Medical Records

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what legal advice he has received on the issue of access rights to summary care records.

Ben Bradshaw: No legal advice has been sought or received on the specific issue of access rights to summary care records. Summary care records are no different in this respect from any other confidential personal patient information held by national health service organisations. Access rights are set out in statute, most particularly the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Access to Health Records Act 1990.
	In the absence of a statutory right of access to information, an individual may only gain access to information where doing so meets the confidentiality requirements established under the common law. Confidentiality requirements are set out in the Department's publication Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice (2003) which was endorsed by the Information Commissioner, the General Medical Council and the Department's legal advisers. A copy of the publication has been placed in the Library. In line with these requirements, access to summary care record information is only permitted to clinical staff who have a legitimate relationship with the patient for which consent may be implied, for example because they are providing NHS healthcare or treatment, or who have express consent from the patient for other reasons, for example clinical research. Exceptionally, confidential information may be passed to third parties in accordance with certain specific statutory provisions or where required under court order, or where the public interest is such that both the obligations of confidentiality and the competing public interest in the provision of confidential health services need to be overridden.

Medical Records

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money due to each local service provider in respect of delivery of care record systems has been withheld owing to delays in delivery.

Ben Bradshaw: National programme for information technology contracts provide for delay deductions to be paid by the local service provider (LSP) should the LSP fail to achieve certain key milestones. Under these arrangements, some 25.875 million has to date been paid by CSC, some of which has been earned back. Delay deductions have not to date been paid by any other LSP, but those that have been assessed for Fujitsu will be factored into the contract termination arrangements.

Mental Health Services: Per Capita Costs

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much is spent per head of population on the provision of mental health services  (a) on average and  (b) in each primary care trust area in England.

Phil Hope: The average primary care trust (PCT) per capita expenditure is 167. The average total per capita spend on mental health is 183, as this includes spend by strategic health authorities, special health authorities and the Department. The per capita spends on mental health in each PCT area in England are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Expenditure on mental health in England for financial year 2006-07 
			  Primary care trust (PCT) name   per head of population 
			 County Durham PCT 147 
			 Darlington PCT 147 
			 Gateshead PCT 186 
			 Hartlepool PCT 168 
			 Redcar and Cleveland PCT 130 
			 Middlesbrough PCT 165 
			 Newcastle PCT 174 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Teaching PCT 148 
			 North Tyneside PCT 199 
			 Northumberland Care Trust 186 
			 South Tyneside PCT 166 
			 Sunderland Teaching PCT 187 
			 Ashton, Leigh and Wigan PCT 126 
			 Blackburn with Darwen Teaching PCT 135 
			 Blackpool PCT 178 
			 Bolton PCT 128 
			 Bury PCT 132 
			 Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT 135 
			 Central Lancashire PCT 189 
			 Cumbria PCT 196 
			 East Lancashire PCT 127 
			 Halton and St. Helens PCT 131 
			 Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT 144 
			 Knowsley PCT 207 
			 Liverpool PCT 188 
			 Manchester PCT 199 
			 North Lancashire PCT 180 
			 Oldham PCT 151 
			 Salford Teaching PCT 161 
			 Sefton PCT 166 
			 Stockport PCT 138 
			 Tameside and Glossop PCT 158 
			 Trafford PCT 154 
			 Warrington PCT 146 
			 West Cheshire PCT 158 
			 Wirral PCT 148 
			 Barnsley PCT 120 
			 Bradford and Airedale Teaching PCT 158 
			 Calderdale PCT 156 
			 Doncaster PCT 175 
			 East Riding Of Yorkshire PCT 113 
			 Hull Teaching PCT 165 
			 Kirklees PCT 163 
			 Leeds PCT 178 
			 North East Lincolnshire PCT 168 
			 North Lincolnshire PCT 143 
			 North Yorkshire and York PCT 139 
			 Rotherham PCT 148 
			 Sheffield PCT 191 
			 Wakefield District PCT 129 
			 Bassetlaw PCT 114 
			 Derby City PCT 168 
			 Derbyshire County PCT 130 
			 Leicester City Teaching PCT 160 
			 Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT 170 
			 Lincolnshire Teaching PCT 130 
			 Northamptonshire Teaching PCT 168 
			 Nottingham City PCT 186 
			 Nottinghamshire County Teaching PCT 149 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 130 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 185 
			 Dudley PCT 132 
			 Heart of Birmingham Teaching PCT 190 
			 Herefordshire PCT 210 
			 North Staffordshire PCT 142 
			 Sandwell PCT 122 
			 Shropshire County PCT 168 
			 Solihull Care Trust 142 
			 South Birmingham PCT 206 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 146 
			 Stoke On Trent Teaching PCT 158 
			 Telford and Wrekin PCT 134 
			 Walsall Teaching PCT 150 
			 Warwickshire PCT 153 
			 Wolverhampton City PCT 154 
			 Worcestershire PCT 161 
			 Bedfordshire PCT 158 
			 Cambridgeshire PCT 162 
			 East and North Hertfordshire PCT 141 
			 Great Yarmouth and Waveney Teaching PCT 150 
			 Luton Teaching PCT 163 
			 Mid Essex PCT 145 
			 Norfolk PCT 170 
			 North East Essex PCT 165 
			 Peterborough PCT 186 
			 South East Essex PCT 184 
			 South West Essex Teaching PCT 146 
			 Suffolk PCT 164 
			 West Essex PCT 243 
			 West Hertfordshire PCT 153 
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 164 
			 Barnet PCT 129 
			 Bexley PCT 144 
			 Brent Teaching PCT 199 
			 Bromley PCT 167 
			 Camden PCT 319 
			 City and Hackney Teaching PCT 264 
			 Croydon PCT 180 
			 Ealing PCT 248 
			 Enfield PCT 198 
			 Greenwich Teaching PCT 221 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 216 
			 Haringey Teaching PCT 239 
			 Harrow PCT 209 
			 Havering PCT 147 
			 Hillingdon PCT 139 
			 Hounslow PCT 205 
			 Islington PCT 363 
			 Kensington and Chelsea PCT 265 
			 Kingston PCT 187 
			 Lambeth PCT 312 
			 Lewisham PCT 312 
			 Newham PCT 184 
			 Redbridge PCT 164 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 181 
			 Southwark PCT 275 
			 Sutton and Merton PCT 164 
			 Tower Hamlets PCT 195 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 154 
			 Wandsworth PCT 230 
			 Westminster PCT 267 
			 Brighton and Hove City Teaching PCT 172 
			 East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT 161 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent Teaching PCT 141 
			 Hastings and Rother PCT 157 
			 Medway Teaching PCT 136 
			 Surrey PCT 151 
			 West Kent PCT 98 
			 West Sussex Teaching PCT 133 
			 Berkshire East Teaching PCT 137 
			 Berkshire West PCT 167 
			 Buckinghamshire PCT 173 
			 Hampshire PCT 138 
			 Isle of Wight Healthcare PCT 175 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 144 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 168 
			 Portsmouth City Teaching PCT 198 
			 Southampton City PCT 205 
			 Bath and North East Somerset PCT 162 
			 Bournemouth and Poole Teaching PCT 149 
			 Bristol Teaching PCT 190 
			 Cornwall and Isles Of Scilly PCT 136 
			 Devon PCT 133 
			 Dorset PCT 180 
			 Gloucestershire PCT 175 
			 North Somerset PCT 156 
			 Plymouth Teaching PCT 196 
			 Somerset PCT 130 
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 181 
			 Swindon PCT 169 
			 Torbay Care Trust 138 
			 Wiltshire PCT 136 
			   
			 Aggregate PCT Level 167 
			   
			 England Level 183 
			  Notes: 1. PCT level expenditure is calculated using expenditure on own PCTs population divided through by the Unified Weighted Population for the PCT. Unified Weighted Population figures are those used to determine PCT allocations and are adjusted to take account of age, sex and need. 2. The England level expenditure per head is calculated using gross expenditure on mental health as reported in the Department's resource accounts, which includes the Department, PCT, SHA and special health authority expenditure.

Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust: Hospital Beds

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds there were in the Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust area in  (a) May 1997 and  (b) the latest date for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. Information on beds data is collected annually via the KH03 return collecting the total available bed-days by trust. The following numbers are the calculated average daily bed number at the Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust.
	1997-98: 911 beds (open overnight and day only beds)
	2007-08: 786 beds (open overnight and day only beds)

Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust: Hospital Beds

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what proportion of beds in the Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust area were in mixed sex wards in  (a) 1997 and  (b) the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many beds in the Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust area were in mixed sex wards in  (a) May 1997 and  (b) the latest period for which figures are available.

Ann Keen: Information about the number/proportion of beds that are in mixed sex wards is not collected centrally. However, the Healthcare Commission's annual national in-patient survey does provide data relating to mixed sex accommodation. For Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust, the survey shows that in 2007(1), 36.8 per cent. of respondents reported sharing their sleeping area with a patient of the opposite sex upon first admission to the hospital.
	Our guidance to the national health service has always required single sex accommodation rather than single sex wards. Even within a mixed ward, good single sex accommodation can be achieved by using single rooms or single sex bays and toilet facilities.
	On 28 January 2009, the Department announced a six-month programme to eliminate mixed sex accommodation, this includes a 100 million 'Privacy and Dignity Fund' to support local improvements and tough financial penalties from 2010-11 for those trusts that do not deliver.
	(1) Source:
	Healthcare Commission National Inpatient Survey, published May 2008.

NHS: Finance

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the capital budget for the NHS in 2008-09 is; and what proportion of this budget has been spent to date;
	(2)  how many  (a) private finance initiative,  (b) public capital project and  (c) local improvement finance trust schemes were in operation at the latest date for which figures are available; how many such schemes were subject to delays; and for how long the completion date of each such scheme has been put back;
	(3)  what capital expenditure his Department is planning to bring forward;
	(4)  what he expects the capital budget for the NHS to be in 2009-10; and what proportion of it he expects to be underspent.

Ben Bradshaw: Under this Government 76 private finance initiative funded schemes (with capital value over 10 million); 225 public capital projects over 1 million using the Procure 21 Framework agreement have opened; and 196 local improvement finance trust facilities have opened. Detailed records on schemes below these capital cost thresholds and other public capital funded schemes are not held centrally. Information on delays which occurred on these schemes and the impact on their project timetables is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Government announced in their pre-Budget report (24 November 2008) that as part of the 3 billion fiscal stimulus package the Department would bring forward 100 million of capital spending to advance the upgrading of up to 600 general practitioner surgeries to advanced training practices. This spending is being brought forward from financial year 2010-11 to 2009-10.
	The Department will have 5.6 billion of public capital resources in 2009-10. This funding is fully committed albeit based on plans that are still being finalised.
	The 2008-09 capital departmental expenditure limit for the Department is 4.7 billion. This funding is fully committed against national and local national health service capital spending programmes. The latest forecast outturn suggests that the great majority of available capital resources will be spent in 2008-09.

Patient Choice Schemes

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of reducing the scope of Choose and Book to operate only as an electronic booking service.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not considered and has no plans to reduce the scope of choose and book.
	The choose and book system has been designed to support patients and general practitioners. It is a big step towards giving patients greater involvement in the decisions about their treatment and is a tool to support patient choicehelping them shape for themselves the services that are on offer. It also helps general practitioners (GPs) navigate through the increasing array of choices that national health service patients can make.
	The NHS Constitution published on 21 January 2009, gives patients the right to make choices about their NHS care and to information to support these choices. A copy has already been placed in the Library. Primary care trusts must ensure that choices are available and the necessary systems are in place to offer and support choice and to enable booked appointments to be made.

Pharmacy

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of medicine use reviews to meet local health priorities.

Phil Hope: There is provision within the Pharmaceutical Services (Advanced and Enhanced Services) (England) Directions 2005 to allow primary care trusts to notify pharmacists in their area of the categories of patients who would benefit from the provision of Medicines Use Review (MUR) services. The pharmacist should consider this in determining who to offer the service to.
	Further, the White Paper 'Pharmacy in England: Building on strengthsdelivering the future' makes clear we are concerned that the provision of MUR services is currently geared to rewarding the volume of MURs undertaken. We believe it is necessary for MUR services to be prioritised to meet health needs. NHS Employers (NHSE) and the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) have discussed a mechanism for delivering this objective and ensuring funding rewards health outcomes. NHSE and PSNC have now presented their proposals to the Department, which are being considered.

Teenage Pregnancy

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how he plans to assess the value for money of the 26 million allocated to primary care trusts for programmes to reduce teenage pregnancies;
	(2)  how the 26 million allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) for programmes to reduce teenage pregnancies has been spent by each PCT; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the expenditure.

Dawn Primarolo: A total of 26.8 million has been allocated this year to strategic health authorities (SHAs) and primary care trusts (PCTs) to improve women's knowledge of, and access to the full range of contraception, to help reduce the number of teenage pregnancies and abortions.
	It is for SHAs and PCTs to determine how to use this funding most effectively to meet the needs of their local populations. However, departmental officials are working with SHAs to provide advice and spread good practice. Priority areas include encouraging innovation and ensuring equitable access to all methods of contraception including long acting reversible (LARC) methods. Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) highlighted that the National Health Service could save around 100 million through reducing unintended pregnancies if women switched to LARC.
	The South West Public Health Observatory is developing a balanced score card for sexual health which will monitor a range of indicators at PCT, SHA and national level. This will be available during 2009 and the first phase will focus on outcomes for young people.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Arms Trade

Michael Fallon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what was the total value of military equipment supplied by the UK to  (a) Israel and  (b) Palestine in 2007-08.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 20 January 2009
	HM Revenue and Customs' Overseas Trade Statistics do not provide a complete identification of defence equipment. For Standard International Trade Classification division 98 (military weapons and accessories), they record UK exports to Israel worth 77,000 in 2007 and 1,445,000 in the first 10 months of 2008, and UK imports from Israel worth 607,000 and 1,947,000 respectively. There was no recorded UK trade in SITC division 98 with the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make it his policy that temporary and permanent employees of his Department employed at the same grade receive the same hourly rate of pay.

Patrick McFadden: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 14 January 2009,  Official Report, column 757W.

Furniture: Safety

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many items of unsafe furniture have been seized by scambuster teams since 2005.

Gareth Thomas: Since 2005 Trading Standards scambuster teams have been involved in two operations involving unsafe furniture. To date, the majority of the scambuster investigations have been in relation to doorstep selling and rogue traders providing home improvement products.
	The north-east team seized 161 pieces of furniture in a warehouse raid. After testing, all 161 items were found to be in compliance with the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1998.
	The scambuster team covering the south-east region investigated a rogue trader selling furniture door to door. Seven of the nine items of furniture seized failed to comply with the regulations.

Furniture: Safety

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much the scambusters programme has spent in each year since 2005, broken down by category of expenditure.

Gareth Thomas: 1.8 million of funding was allocated for the pilot phase of the project. Scambusters teams were piloted in three areas; the North East, Central England and across the South East, London and East of England. In June 2008 the Government announced that 7.5 million of funding was available over three years for specialist trading standards scambuster teams throughout Great Britain. During the course of this year, five new scambuster teams have become operational. The final team in the North West will be operational from April 2009.
	Since 2005, the scambuster initiative has spent the following:
	
		
			  Pilot stage 
			   
			   Salaries  Marketing  Running costs( 1)  Legal  Total 
			 2006-07 438,390.66 10,678.0 85,427.86 57,928.72 592,424.78 
			 2007-08 745,223.36 29,934.94 193,908.20 17,146.76 986,213.26 
			 (1) Running costs will cover training, accommodation, office equipment, travel. 
		
	
	
		
			  Roll out 
			   
			   Salaries  Marketing  Running costs  Legal  Total 
			 2008-09(1) 628,764.94 3,270.0 208,186.71 14,285.40 854,507.05 
			 (1) Figures as of December 2008.

Mining: Bangladesh

Lynne Jones: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what support his Department is providing to the proposal by the UK company Global Coal Management Resources plc for an opencast mine at Phulbari in Bangladesh.

Gareth Thomas: Global Coal Management Resources plc is in contact with officials within the British high commission, Dhaka with respect to their proposed project in Bangladesh. As a UK company they are entitled to support. This support ensures that the company are aware of legislative issues that may have implications for their business in Bangladesh. Officials will remain in contact with the company and the Government of Bangladesh and respond to specific requests for assistance in accordance with Government policy.

Newspapers: Regulation

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether  (a) he and (b) the Office of Fair Trading plans to make an assessment of the implications for the regulatory matters for which each is responsible of the change in ownership of the London  Evening Standard.

Gareth Thomas: We understand the Office of Fair Trading does not propose to examine this transaction on competition grounds. My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to issue an intervention notice to require an investigation on public interest grounds. There is no indication that the purchase may be expected to result in inaccurate presentation of news or a loss of plurality of views in newspapers.

Regional Development Agencies: Trade Unions

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much funding each of the regional development agencies has given to trades union bodies in the last 12 months; and what the purpose of such funding was.

Patrick McFadden: RDAs fund initiatives through a variety of third party organisations to deliver projects to increase economic growth, such as on workforce development and economic inclusion. The specific focus and priorities of such activities are set out in each region's Regional Economic Strategy.
	The following funding has been provided by RDAs to trade unions as requested in the question.
	
		
			  RDA  Trade union  Purpose  Funding (000) 
			 AWM National Farmers Union Grant to support Blue Tongue awareness literature. 9 
			  National Farmers Union Grant to support counselling service to farming communities following the rural floods. 25 
			  Unity Grant to support return to work assistance for workers within the ceramics industry. 150 
			  Union Learn Grant to refurbish and equip 20 new learning centres managed by trade unions within employers to provide access to training. 82 
			 Total   266 
			 
			 EEDA National Farmers Union Contribution towards 'Blue Tongue Information Day.' 1 
			  National Farmers Union Contribution to sustainable future for sugar beet producers. 35 
			 Total   36 
			 EMDA National Farmers Union Marketing support to raise awareness of the Blue Tongue disease across the farming community. 3 
			  National Farmers Union Grant payment to the NFU for the Joint Venture Farming Group. The main remit of the group being to assist with knowledge transfer between farms. 12 
			  Trade Union Congress To build management skills in the workplace by using the specialised knowledge of trade unions in order to target organisations in which to offer assistance. 114 
			  Trade Union Congress Grant funding to help skilled migrant workers achieve their potential by utilising existing skills and offering learning opportunities to gain a recognised qualification. 47 
			 Total   176 
			 
			 LDA Trade Union Congress Diversity Works for London project. The funding enabled the TUC to train union reps and members on the importance and benefits of diversity in the workplace. 86 
			  Public and Commercial Services Union To cover the cost of legal advice provided to a member of LDA staff as part of Compromise Agreement negotiations. 0.3 
			 Total   86.3 
			 
			 NWDA National Farmers Union Sponsorship of Blue Tongue Awareness Campaign. 3 
			  Trade Union Congress Grant funding for delivery of skills strategy. 44 
			  Trade Union Congress Promotion of Liverpool Capital of Culture website to union members. 2 
			  Trade Union Congress Funding of policy officer post to implement the delivery of Regional Economic Strategy objectives relating to skills and workforce development. 47 
			 Total   96 
			 
			 ONE Trade Union Congress Funding in connection with the 'Working Together' project to help local companies raise their profile. 101 
			 Total   101 
			 
			 SEEDA National Farmers Union South East Blue Tongue Outbreak in the South East. SEEDA provided a grant to support the joint NFU Campaign to promote and assist the NFU raise awareness for farmers for take up of the BTV8 vaccine to protect livestock in the South East. 14 
			  National Farmers Union Bio-security Co-ordinator: A joint funding venture for the Industry Disease co-ordinator, for raising, prevention of disease control for Land Based business in South East. 2 
			  National Farmers Union To promote a Phase 2 campaign against a new virus in the South East and to raise awareness for farmers in the South East continuing to March 2009. 4 
			 Total   20 
			 
			 SWRDA South West TUC Learning works for allA project to increase productivity and performance especially through raising skills levels, encouraging innovation and promoting learning to employees. 447 
			  South West TUC Environmental Driver Implementation PlanGreen South West workplace projects. 49 
			  TUC (Cornwall Union Learning Services) TUC Learning ServicesCornwall. To generate more Union Learning Representatives and work-based learners. 16 
			  National Farmers Union Modernising Rural Delivery: Uplands delivery. Funding for South West Task Force conference. The conference was hosted by the South West Uplands Task Force, established with the support of the National Farmers Union and the Countryside Landowners Association. 5 
			 Total   517 
			 
			 YF National Farmers Union Funding for the production and distribution of a mail shot by NFU to create awareness of the Blue Tongue Don't hesitate. Vaccinate! campaign 3 
			  Yorkshire and Humber TUC To support the National Learning at Work Day and National Adult Learners Week with a principal aim of promoting training opportunities in the workplace and identifying learning and training needs of employees. 30 
			  Yorkshire and Humber TUC To support the programme English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL). This funding allowed 300 beneficiaries to take the ESOL course. 302 
			  Yorkshire and Humber TUC To support Union Learn events and a Policy Officer working for the Yorkshire and Humber TUC delivering the Regional Economic Strategy and promoting the work of RDAs among the regional union network. 45 
			 Total   380

Russia

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2009,  Official Report, column 955W, on official visits: Russia, when he plans to place a list of the Secretary of State's engagements during his visit to Russia in October 2008 in the Library.

Gareth Thomas: A copy of the list of my noble Friend the Secretary of State's engagements during his visit to Russia in October 2008 was placed in the Libraries of the House on 26 January 2009.

Unfair Practices: Loans

Brooks Newmark: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government are taking to protect consumers from unsolicited mail offering loans without clearly stating the effective rate of interest applied to the loan.

Gareth Thomas: The Government have taken steps to protect consumers from misleading loan advertisements. In October 2004 the new Consumer Credit (Advertisements) Regulations came into force. These increase consistency and transparency, allowing consumers to compare financial products with confidence. Lenders are now required to provide consumers with clear information when advertising loans. Information relating to the cost of the loan must be displayed with equal prominence to other key mandatory information, ensuring consumers are not misled over additional charges or costs. In particular, any credit advertisement for a specific loan product must include a typical APR (Annual Percentage Rate of Charge).

Video Games: Canada

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what progress has been made in investigating whether Canadian subsidies to the video games industry breach World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules; and when the Government expect to lodge a formal complaint with the WTO.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 12 January 2009
	 BERR officials have discussed this issue with the European Commission on several occasions last year, as WTO disputes are a matter of Community competence.
	No disciplines on subsidies exist under the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services, and Canada has not made any specific market access commitments with regard to computer games services.
	On the basis of information examined to date, the Government currently share the Commission's analysis that there therefore appears to be little or no scope to bring a complaint to the WTO in relation to any subsidies Canada may be granting to video games producers established in Canada.
	However, we have passed to the Commission additional details recently received from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) in response to earlier questions from the Commission.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Caravans: Ministerial Responsibility

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 29 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1133W, on caravans, which Minister in her Department is responsible for  (a) mobile caravans and  (b) Travellers.

Iain Wright: I am the Minister responsible for housing and planning policies within the Department relating to mobile caravans and Travellers.

CMPi

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 18 March 2008,  Official Report, column 961W, on CMPi, what payments have been made since February 2008; and for what purpose payments were made to CMPi from 2007-08 to date.

Sadiq Khan: The following table sets out payments made by the Department and its agencies to CMPi since 1 March 2008.
	
		
			
			 Communities and Local Government (Central) 58,239 
			 Agencies 28,482 
		
	
	Payments were made for various reasons including recruitment advertising, publications, exhibition stands at conferences and to cover conference delegation fees.

Council Tax

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will commission research into the incidence of local authorities issuing court summonses for non-payment of council tax in error; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: The Government believe that the regulations governing the enforcement of unpaid council tax are robust enough to keep any errors in the system at a minimum, and provide ample opportunity for citizens to establish that there has been an error. Local authorities are legally required to send the taxpayer at least two reminders about unpaid council tax before seeking a liability order from the court. They are required, in second reminders, to give the taxpayer 14 days within which payment of any outstanding amount must be paid and a warning that the local authority will apply to the magistrates court for a liability order if the debt remains outstanding after 14 days. The person summoned may appear before the court and always has an opportunity to establish that the council tax has been demanded in error. The court is required to satisfy itself that the sum demanded has become payable by the defendant and has not been paid. Commissioning such research would therefore not be a prudent use of public money.

Council Tax: Discounts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the purpose is of her Department's  (a) council tax discount grant,  (b) performance reward grant and  (c) restoration fund grant.

John Healey: Communities and Local Government does not administer a council tax discount grant.
	The purpose of performance reward grant is to provide local authorities and their partners with a financial incentive to achieve targets agreed within Local Area Agreements.
	The Restoration Fund was a one off 31 million fund paid out to the 62 local authorities who incurred significant unmet costs as a direct result of the summer 2007 floods. The funding was intended to support local authorities in their continued efforts to rebuild their communities. Local authorities were free to spend the fund as they saw fit, depending on local priorities.

Council Tax: Non-Payment

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of summonses issued by each local authority for non-payment of council tax were subsequently withdrawn in the most recent year for which information is available.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Mr. Waterson) on 22 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1657W.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 15 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1315W, on council tax: valuation, whether the observations on consequentials referred to were made in writing.

John Healey: No.

Departmental ICT

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the initial estimated  (a) cost and  (b) delivery date was of each ICT project initiated by her Department and its predecessors in each year since 1997; what the (i) outturn cost and (ii) completion date was of each such project subsequently completed; which contractors were hired for each project; and how much has been paid to each contractor in respect of each project to date.

Sadiq Khan: A full answer to the question could be given only at disproportionate cost. However I refer the hon. Member to the following answers given previously to questions covering some of the same ground:
	Hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) on 19 January 2005,  Official Report, columns 998-99W
	Hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs. Villiers) on 9 February 2006,  Official Report, columns 1420-21W
	Hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 13 July 2006,  Official Report, column 1938W
	Hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 4 December 2006,  Official Report, columns 182-84W
	Hon. Member for Poole (Mr. Syms) on 3 September 2007,  Official Report, columns 1644-46W
	Hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) on 23 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 2104-06W
	Hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 5 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 545-46W
	Hon. Member for Fareham (Mr. Hoban) on 17 December 2008,  Official Report, column 786W.

Departmental Procurement

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 302-3W, on departmental procurement, what the breakdown is of the associated costs of Euro RSCG London Ltd in relation to the fire campaign. [Official Report, 10 February 2009, Vol. 487, c. 13MC.]

Sadiq Khan: The breakdown of the costs paid to Euro RSCG London Ltd (and associated companies) in relation to the fire campaign in 2007-08 is as follows:
	
		
			  Breakdown   
			  Euro RSCG 4D Digital  
			 Transmission costs for Fire Kills national advertising and usage fee for advertisements. 166,468 
			   
			 Press narrative for research carried out for Fire Kills advertising 5,507 
			 Radio narrative for research carried out for Fire Kills advertising 10,234 
			 Creative for campaign support materials 26,078 
			 Agency commission on Media Advertising 145,113 
			 TV production costs for Fire Kills advertising 188,845 
			   
			  Euro RSCG London Ltd 370,269

Departmental Public Relations

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost of her Department's contracts with public relations consultancies was in each of the last five years.

Sadiq Khan: For contracts with public relations consultancies for the financial year 2006-7 and prior, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Basildon (Angela E. Smith) on 5 June 2007,  Official Report, column 331W. For contracts during 2007-8, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Devizes (Mr. Ancram) on 27 October 2008,  Official Report, column 717W.

Eco-Towns

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1265-6W, on eco-towns, which external companies were engaged to perform communications work using the 385,200 referred to; and what the purpose of each such contract was.

Iain Wright: We commissioned a number of agencies through the Central Office of Information (COI) to support us on the communications aspect of the eco-towns programme. The names of the companies involved and their role is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Agency  Role 
			 Four Public relations and raising awareness about the eco-towns programme and consultation process in the regional media. 
			 M-is Organising and managing the logistics for a series of consultation 'roadshow' events in and around the potential eco-town locations. 
			 COI Advertorials in respect of first stage consultation procurement fees for digital work 
		
	
	We also commissioned further agencies through our own framework contract and the details of these are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Agency  Role 
			 Red House Lane Graphic design and artwork for branding, advertorials and posters. 
			 Andrew Irving Associates Eco-towns questionnaire for online You Gov omnibus survey. 
			 Cragg Ross Dawson Qualitative research to explore national and local attitudes to the proposals for eco-towns

Emergency Services: ICT

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which communications systems used by the different emergency services are not inter-operable.

Sadiq Khan: The provision of radio communications is a local responsibility for each of the emergency services, the Department for Communities and Local Government does not maintain a central record of operational equipment locally procured. To promote inter-operability between fire and rescue services and the other emergency services, the Department for Communities and Local Government is exercising its powers under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 to procure and implement a new wide area radio communications network (the Firelink project) for the fire and rescue service. When Firelink has been implemented, the fire and rescue service will be able to communicate with the other emergency services at strategic and operational command level.

Energy Performance Certificates

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the likely effects on  (a) the environment and  (b) those buying or renting houses of making energy performance certificates publicly accessible.

Iain Wright: The assessment made of the likely effects on  (a) the environment and  (b) those buying or renting houses of making energy performance certificates publicly accessible is contained in the regulatory impact assessment energy performance of buildings directive articles 7-10, published in March 2007. This was deposited in the House of Commons Library on 23 March 2007.

Fire Services

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether staff employed in regional fire control rooms will be eligible for the Fire Brigade's Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

Sadiq Khan: Staff in the new regional fire control centres which are local authority owned companies will not be in Fire Brigade employment and will not be eligible.

Fire Services and Local Government: Influenza

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment the Audit Commission has made of the preparedness of  (a) the fire and rescue authorities and  (b) local authorities for an influenza pandemic.

Sadiq Khan: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission, and I will ask the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to the hon. Member direct.
	 Letter from Steve Bundred:
	Your Parliamentary Question on what assessment the Audit Commission has made of the preparedness of (a) the fire and rescue authorities; and (b) local authorities for an influenza pandemic has been passed to me to reply.
	The Audit Commission has made no specific assessment of the preparedness of fire and rescue authorities or local authorities for an influenza pandemic.
	Auditors appointed by the Commission undertake an annual use of resources assessment at each fire and rescue authority and local authority. One element of this assessment covers the risk management arrangements in place at the authority and auditors report any significant weaknesses they identify in those arrangements as part of their annual audit reporting.

Fire Services: Equality

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what  (a) advice and  (b) guidance (i) her Department and (ii) the Fire Service College have given to fire services on diversity (A) quotas and (B) recommendations for operational fire and rescue roles.

Sadiq Khan: In June 2008 Communities and Local Government published the Fire and Rescue Service Equality and Diversity Strategy (the strategy). The strategy provides advice for Fire and Rescue Services on equality and diversity issues. The Fire and Rescue Service national framework requires Fire and Rescue Services to implement the provisions of the strategy. A copy of the strategy has been placed in the Library of the House.
	Guidance on setting specific local minority ethnic recruitment targets were provided to the Service under cover of Fire Service circular 55-2008 published on 23 October 2008. The circular is available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/fire/pdf/frc552008.pdf
	The Fire Service college does not issue advice or guidance to the Fire and Rescue Service on diversity targets or recommendations for operational fire and rescue roles.

Fire Services: Military Aid

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department classifies the withdrawal of armed forces' emergency fire cover and the associated obligation to pay for alternative contingency cover as a new burden on the fire and rescue authorities.

Sadiq Khan: The provision of the armed forces to provide emergency fire cover has always been discretionary. The 2003 White Paper 'Our Fire and Rescue Service' made it clear that no party should proceed on the basis that the armed forces would be available to provide emergency cover in the event of industrial action. Delivery of an efficient and effective fire service, including arrangements for the provision of emergency fire cover, is the responsibility of fire and rescue authorities, which are expected to live within existing resources.

Government Offices for the Regions: Expenditure

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which programme budgets were administered by the Government offices for the regions in 2007-08, broken down by sponsoring Department; and what the amount of each was.

Sadiq Khan: The Government offices do not undertake an annual exercise to collect information on the programme budgets administered on behalf of sponsor Departments. No information is therefore available for 2007-08.
	The most recent year in which information on programme budgets was collected was in 2006-07 when the figures were as follows:
	
		
			  Sponsor Department  Programme funding  () 
			 Department for Transport 2,389,000,000 
			 Communities and Local Government 2,180,046,041 
			 Department for Work and Pensions 1,150,845,613 
			 Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 947,214,000 
			 Department for Education and Skills 811,379,686 
			 Home Office 233,313,878 
			 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 16,155,346 
			 Total 7,727,954,564

Government Offices for the Regions: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the administration costs of the Government Offices for the Regions were in 2007-08; and what the budget for each is for 2008-09.

Sadiq Khan: The administration costs for the Government Offices for the Regions in 2007-08 were as follows:
	
		
			  GO  Final outturn 2007-08 (000) 
			 North East 11,826.45 
			 North West 16,095.53 
			 Yorks and Humber 13,447.21 
			 West Midlands 15,000.75 
			 East Midlands 10,857.39 
			 East 11,398.50 
			 South East 13,105.84 
			 South West 13,763.68 
			 London 16,198.99 
			 Total 121,694.34 
		
	
	The budgets for the Government Offices for the Regions for 2008-09 are as follows:
	
		
			  GO  Budget 2008-09 (000) 
			 North East 9,723.87 
			 North West 12,208.56 
			 Yorks and Humber 9,125.90 
			 West Midlands 10,831.40 
			 East Midlands 8,951.99 
			 East 9,505.75 
			 South East 10,613.61 
			 South West 10,645.94 
			 London 12,002.99 
			 Total 93,610.02

Government Offices for the Regions: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 23 October 2008,  Official Report, column 489W, on Government Office for the Regions: finance, for what reason the Government Office Network has stopped retaining records of the total programme expenditure of the Government Offices for the Regions; and which bodies audit the overall expenditure of the individual Government Offices.

Sadiq Khan: The Government office network does not undertake an annual exercise to review departmental programme expenditure that passes through the GOs since all programme budgets administered by the Government offices are the responsibility of the Secretaries of State for the relevant sponsor Departments. Departments can delegate authority to the regional directors, though all expenditure incurred is recorded in the accounts of the Department concerned.
	The Government offices are audited by the Government office audit team and the National Audit Office, although programme expenditure is audited by sponsor Department audit teams.

Home Information Packs

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, column 952W, on home information packs, if she will place in the Library a copy of the report of the working group.

Iain Wright: I will place a copy in the Library of the House.

Home Information Packs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 321W, on home information packs, if she will place in the Library a copy of the proposals submitted to her by the Stakeholder Panel on Home Buying and Selling.

Iain Wright: No formal paper was submitted by the Stakeholder Panel on Home Buying and Selling. Following discussions at the panel in November, it became apparent that further work was needed. That is why my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing announced, on 8 December, the establishment of a working group to consider the issue of condition information.

Homes and Communities Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which members of the Homes and Communities Agency board have made a declaration of political activity.

Margaret Beckett: This information is already in the public domain, the Communities and Local Government press notice dated 17 October 2008 refers to it:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/996383

Homes and Communities Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans the Homes and Communities Agency has to buy land.

Margaret Beckett: The new Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which was established on 1 December 2008, is the Government's key delivery partner in relation to housing and regeneration. It has the ability to acquire land in support of its statutory objects and in accordance with priorities established through its corporate planning process. The HCA can acquire land for a range of purposes, for example to unlock sites in fragmented ownership or to provide access enabling development to proceed.
	In addition, the HCA is responsible for the management of the programme for the delivery of more and better homes on surplus public sector land, with a target of 200,000 homes by 2016, of which the aspiration is that up to 50 per cent. of homes delivered will be affordable homes. The HCA is working closely with landowning Departments to ensure that land is coming forward.
	In the current market, however, we are keeping all options under constant review and both my Department and the HCA are actively engaged in discussions with the industry.

Homes and Communities Agency: Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much of the Homes and Communities Agency's national affordable homes budget for 2008-09 has been  (a) allocated and  (b) spent.

Margaret Beckett: Over 2.1 billion has been allocated from the Homes and Communities Affordable Housing Programme budget for 2008-09 by the end of December 2008. The HCA are accepting and assessing bids on a continuous basis as part of their continuous market engagement.
	Spend on the Affordable Housing Programme to the end of December totalled 1.1 billion which is in line with trajectory for this programme.

Housing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what planned capital expenditure on housing in future years by her Department and its agencies she is bringing forward.

Margaret Beckett: On 2 September 2008 we announced a 1 billion market rescue package to increase confidence, stability and fairness in the housing market. On 24 November we brought forward additional capital spending as part of the 2008 pre-Budget report fiscal stimulus. Considering together the September housing announcement and the pre-Budget report, we are making 330 million, 1.195 billion and 55 million of capital available for expenditure on housing in years 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11 respectively. A further 100 million is being brought forward for regeneration programmes in 2008-10. In addition, 95 million has been made available for 2009-10 and 2010-11 to support reforms to Support for Mortgage Interest announced in the September 2008 housing package.
	This total package of 1.775 billion includes the additional flexibility offered by the Government, at the pre-Budget report, to the regional development agencies to bring forward 100 million of capital expenditure from financial year 2010-11 to 2009-10. Communities and Local Government and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform are currently working closely with the regional development agencies to take this forward.
	It also takes account of the flexibility offered by the Government to local authorities in England to bring forward up to 175 million of planned major housing repairs expenditure from 2010-11 to 2009-10. Communities and Local Government will invite local authorities in England to bring forward up to this amount to enable councils to invest in a way which will maximise investment in the housing stock in 2009-10.

Housing: EC Action

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to Lord Berkley of 13 January,  Official Report, House of Lords, column WA132, what assessment she has made of the likely effects on  (a) churches and  (b) listed buildings of implementing the EU proposal that member states will no longer be able to provide incentives for the construction or renovation of buildings which do not comply with minimum energy performance requirements.

Iain Wright: We are currently considering the European Union's proposal for the recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and have yet to carry out the impact assessment.

Housing: Planning Permission

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether householders are required to obtain a certificate of lawfulness when paving over their front garden with permeable material; and what powers local authorities have to inspect the materials used.

Iain Wright: Householders are neither required to seek specific planning permission nor obtain a certificate of lawfulness when paving over their front gardens using permeable materials. Local authorities have the right to inspect the materials used as part of their normal enforcement powers.

Housing: Prices

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the mix-adjusted average price of a property purchased by a first time buyer was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government calculate monthly mix-adjusted average purchase prices of domestic dwellings bought by first time buyers based on data from the Regulated Mortgage Survey. This is available for the UK, by country and Government Office region back to February 2002 on our website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/livetable592.xls
	From the weblink given the average mix-adjusted price of a property bought by a first time buyer in November 2008 was 147,329 in England.

Housing: Regeneration

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department provided to each Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder area in 2007-08.

Iain Wright: HMR Pathfinder allocations for 2007-08 are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Total pathfinder funding 2007- 0 8 
			million 
			  HMR Pathfinder  
			 Birmingham Sandwell 29.2 
			 East Lanes 48.9 
			 Hull and East Riding 24.9 
			 Manchester Salford 53.9 
			 Merseyside 50.9 
			 Newcastle Gateshead 41.0 
			 North Staffs 38.5 
			 Oldham Rochdale 37.5 
			 South Yorks 49.8 
			 Tees Valley(1) 12.75 
			 West Yorkshire(1) 12.75 
			 West Cumbria(1) 5.5 
			 (1) The three wider lower demand areas.

Housing: Regeneration

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties were  (a) demolished,  (b) acquired and  (c) refurbished in each housing market renewal pathfinder area in 2007-08.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. Jackson) on 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 990W.

Housing: Students

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what planning policy guidance or circulars have been issued which address issues relating to student housing.

Iain Wright: Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) 'Housing' and its supporting practice guidance on Strategic Housing Market Assessments address issues relating to the provision of student housing.
	The Regional Spatial Strategy and Local Development Framework Core Output IndicatorsUpdate 2/2008 addresses monitoring issues relating to the provision of student housing.

Housing: Students

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how student halls of residence are treated for  (a) planning policy purposes and  (b) valuation purposes.

Iain Wright: The way in which student halls of residence are treated for planning policy purposes and valuation purposes differs. Under the planning system, uses of land and buildings are categorised through reference to the Town and Country (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended). It is for local planning authorities to determine, in the first instance, depending on the individual circumstances of each case, whether student halls of residence would fall under one of the residential use classes or would be considered 'sui generis' (i.e. does not fit into any of the specified use classes).
	For valuation purposes, student halls of residence are treated as domestic property, and subject to council tax bandings. Where they form part of the same hereditament as a college, they will be treated as composite property. The value of the domestic element of a composite is apportioned out of the value of the whole. Though they are banded, they are an exempt class under Class M of the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992 (SI No 558), and no council tax is payable.

Housing: Students

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account is taken of  (a) student halls of residence and  (b) houses of multiple occupation in the process of establishing local authority targets for house construction.

Iain Wright: Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (PPS3) requires all local planning authorities to adopt an evidence based approach to assessing current and future levels of need and demand for housing. Local authority housing targets are set through Regional Spatial Strategies. Houses of multiple occupation are taken into account as a single dwelling when establishing local authority housing targets for construction. Student halls of residence are not included because they are not available on the open market for occupation and often provide only temporary accommodation during term time.

Housing: Students

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood (Mr. Pickles) and Ongar of 28 October 2008,  Official Report, column 960W, on housing: students, what assessment she has made of the extent to which new additional student accommodation in university towns releases housing stock for non-student use; and if she will make it her policy to count such new accommodation towards regional spatial strategy building targets.

Iain Wright: Information is not collected centrally on the extent to which new additional student accommodation in university towns releases housing stock for non-student use.
	As mentioned in my earlier answer, communal establishments, such as student accommodation, are not included in the regional spatial strategy housing targets. This is because they are not available for occupation on the open market and often provide only temporary accommodation during term time.

Interreg Programme

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 29 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1147W, on the Interreg Programme, what projects are being considered under the Interreg  (a) IVA and  (b) IVB programmes which relate to the United Kingdom.

Sadiq Khan: This information is not held centrally by my Department and it could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

Interreg Programme

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) of 29 October 2008,  Official Report, column 1147W, on the Interreg Programme, what the  (a) purpose and  (b) remit is of each of the five Interreg IVC programmes.

Sadiq Khan: The information on each of the five projects is as follows:
	 1. Power
	The lead partner is South East England Development Agency. The project will explore ways to move towards a low carbon economy at regional level, in particular re-formulating regional development strategies and policy instruments and identifying effective forms of sub-regional action which also contribute to regional competitiveness. The seven participating regions will work towards achieving long-term policy objectives around low carbon by finding the best way forward.
	 2. SEE
	The lead partner is Design Wales. The project will share information on policies that have been successful in using design to boost innovation, entrepreneurship, sustainability or economic development. The project has a partnership of 11 organisations, which targets small and medium enterprises and their lack of resources for implementing design practice and innovation into their business.
	 3. PIMMS Transfer
	The lead partner is the London borough of Bromley. The project builds on the 'transfer methodology' developed under Interreg IIIC, which identified the critical success factors behind best practice case studies in mobility management. It aims to stimulate modal shift towards more sustainable forms of transport by increasing the implementation of high quality mobility management techniques and policies in European regions and to extend, deepen and promote best practice in mobility management. The partnership is composed of 15 organisations from 15 countries.
	 4. GRaBS
	The lead partner is the Town and Country Planning Association. The Green and Blue Space Adaptation for Urban Areas and Eco Towns project aims to improve the regional decision and policy making process in relation to the planning and development of new and existing urban areas in nine member states in the context of climate change. It comprises 14 partners.
	 5. RAPIDE
	The lead partner is the South West Regional Development Agency. The project deals with the role of the public sector in stimulating innovation in regions, in particular helping mainly small businesses bring innovative products to market more quickly. By focusing on good practices already identified in partner regions, it aims to develop robust, workable action plans that each region will implement. The project includes 13 partners from 11 member states.

Liverpool Corporation Act 1902

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what powers she has to refer to the courts an alleged breach of the provisions of the Liverpool Corporation Act 1902.

Sadiq Khan: Ministers have no power to refer to the courts an alleged breach of the provisions of the Liverpool Corporation Act 1902. Ministers' powers under the 1902 Act or the Lever Park Act 1969 which replaced certain provisions of the 1902 Act, are restricted to resolving disputes, or appointing an arbitrator to resolve disputes, between the county council and the corporation. No request has been made to resolve any dispute.

Lloyds TSB

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the meeting held by the Minister for the South West with the Chairman of Lloyds TSB on 14 January 2009.

Sadiq Khan: holding answer 27 January 2009
	A copy of the minutes has been deposited in the Library.

Local Government

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued on the designation of billing authorities in areas with two executive tiers of local government.

John Healey: Section 1 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 defines a billing authority as a district or London borough council, the Common Council or the Council of the Isles of Scilly. That definition is expanded by section 19 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and regulation 7 of the Local Government (Structural Changes) (Finance) Regulations 2008 (SI 2008/3022) (the Finance Regulations) to include county councils to which the functions of district councils have been transferred. The Regulations also provide that, in the period to 1 April 2009, for those two tier areas undergoing restructuring on that date, the preparing or shadow council (i.e. the council responsible for implementing restructuring) will be the billing authority for the reorganised area in relation to 2009-10.

Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what requirements parish councils must meet in order to be able to use the new well-being power under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

John Healey: In order for a parish council to be eligible to exercise the power of well-being it must first meet all four conditions set out in the Parish Councils (Power to Promote Well-being) (Prescribed Conditions) Order 2008. A council must have:
	A qualified clerk in the use of the well-being power
	A minimum of two-thirds of vacancies on the council filled at the last ordinary elections
	80 per cent. of councillors trained in the use of the well-being power
	Published a statement on how it intends to involve the community in the use of the well-being power.

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what advice her Department has provided to local authorities on placing money in government bonds.

John Healey: The Department does not provide advice to local authorities on particular financial products. Under the Local Government Act 2003, local authorities are responsible for their own investment decisions. The Department's guidance on local government investments is available at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/capital/data/lginvest2.pdf

Local Government Finance: Coastal Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate she has made of the effect of inward migration on the level of funding for local authority services in each of the principal seaside towns in England.

John Healey: Formula grant is distributed to all local authorities in England taking into account the relative needs and relative resources of each local authority relative to all other authorities providing the same services. There is also a central allocation and a floor damping mechanism. For the current three-year settlement, 2008-09 to 2010-11, the floor damping mechanism ensures that all authorities receive at least the minimum percentage increase in grant year-on-year on a like-for-like basis.
	In the 2008-09 to 2010-11 settlements, the 2004-based sub-national population projections for 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively have been used as the main measure of the resident population. These projections were published by the Office for National Statistics on the 27 September 2007, and were the latest data available at the beginning of the three year settlement period. Population projections take into account trends in fertility, mortality and migration.

Local Government: Billing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1659W, on local government: billing, whether her Department has made an estimate of the number of local authorities which pay invoices within 10 days of receipt.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for East Yorkshire (Mr. Knight) on 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 242W.

Local Government: Billing

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions her Department has had with the Local Government Association on the payment of supplier invoices within 10 days of receipt.

John Healey: Both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and I have discussed with the LGA how authorities could help support business by paying invoices more promptly. These discussions were in the context of wider discussions about the range of local responses authorities are putting in place to the current economic downturn.

Local Government: Carbon Emissions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what financial penalties local authorities may incur in circumstances where they do not meet their carbon dioxide emissions reduction targets from 1 January 2010 onwards.

Iain Wright: If targets included in local area agreements (whether targets related to carbon emissions or otherwise) are not achieved in full it can result in a lower level of performance reward grant. My Department consulted on the operation of a new reward scheme for local areas in 2008, based upon local area agreements. This will be related to targets agreed by local authorities and their partners and our intention is to judge the amount of reward payable by reference to average performance across the targets agreed within the LAA. Responses to this consultation are being considered and an announcement will be made shortly.
	The Carbon Reduction Commitment is a mandatory cap and trade scheme designed to cover emissions from large business and public sector organisations which the Government intend to bring in to operation in 2010. Large local authorities are expected to qualify for the scheme. There will be no targets for individual organisations in the scheme, but an overall cap will be applied to the sector. Revenue raised from CRC will be recycled back to participants. To incentivise improved energy efficiency, the revenues repaid to participants will be subject to a bonus or penalty related to their relative performance compared to other participants. In 2010-11 the maximum bonus or penalty will be +/-10 per cent. rising to 50 per cent. in later years. However it is important to recognize that the net savings due to energy efficiency measures will outweigh any costs of the scheme.

Local Government: Pensions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what effect she estimates the recent stock market downturn will have on the funding of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

John Healey: The scheme's most recent actuarial valuation of the 89 pension funds in England and Wales confirmed its ongoing solvency and set the required employer contributions until 31 March 2011.
	The next triennial valuation takes place on 31 March 2010 and will assess the factors influencing the stability and solvency of the scheme. New employer contribution changes will apply from 1 April 2011 until 31 March 2014.
	In the meantime, scheme administrating authorities will be monitoring events carefully and in consultation with their advisers within the context of their investment strategies and funding strategy statements, both of which are published locally.

Local Government: Referendums

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance has been given to local authorities on the use of public funds to campaign in local referendums.

John Healey: The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity, first issued in 1988 and revised in 2001, which local authorities must have regard to, states that local authority publicity should not be capable as being perceived as seeking to influence public support for, or opposition to, the referendum proposals and should not associate support for, or opposition to, the proposals with any individual or group.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to reply to the letter of 25 November 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Belle Vue Vision.

Hazel Blears: I have now replied to my right hon. Friend's letter.

Mortgages

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of homebuyers took out mortgage payment protection insurance in respect of new mortgages in each year since 2000.

Iain Wright: Estimated numbers of households in England with mortgages that have mortgage insurance back to 2002-03 are presented in the following table. It is not possible to say if these insurance policies were taken out at the time of house purchase/remortgage or at another time.
	
		
			  Trend in households buying with a mortgage that have mortgage insurance( 1) , England 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 All buying with mortgage (thousand) 8,504 8,523 8,300 8,144 8,072 
			 With mortgage insurance (thousand) 5,036 5,088 4,812 4,798 4,670 
			 with mortgage insurance (percentage) 59 60 58 59 58 
			 (1) Insurance that pays off all or part of the mortgage in case of critical illness, or accident, sickness or unemployment/redundancy  Source:  Communities and Local Government, Survey of English Housing

Non-Domestic Rates: Ports

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the most recent editions of guidance and rating manuals that the Valuation Office Agency uses for valuing ports and businesses within ports.

John Healey: The latest Rating Manuals used by the Valuation Office Agency are published on their website and are available to inspect at:
	http://www.voa.gov.uk/index.htm.
	There are separate sections for different types of property, including docks and harbours. There is not a separate section for businesses within ports.

Optimisa

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, column 353W, on Optimisa, if she will place in the Library a copy of the reports by Andrew Irving Associates and its parent company Optimisa on  (a) eco-towns public attitudes,  (b) local government petitions and  (c) sustainable homes telephone survey.

Sadiq Khan: With regards to part  (a) eco-towns public attitudes, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) to the hon. Member for Beckenham (Mrs. Lait) on 8 October 2008,  Official  R eport, column 642W.
	The following reports will be placed in the Library:
	 (b) local government petitions
	 (c) sustainable homes telephone survey.

Parking: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans the Government office for the East Midlands has to make budgetary provision for payment of the workplace parking charge proposed by Nottingham city council.

Sadiq Khan: No decision has been taken by Transport Ministers on whether to confirm Nottingham city council's workplace parking levy scheme order, and it would not be appropriate to speculate on the implications for the Government office.

Public Bodies: Inspections

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which public bodies she expects to  (a) inspect and  (b) audit local authorities in 2009-10.

Sadiq Khan: From 1 April 2009 a new system of assessment and inspection will be introduced, the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA). CAA will cover priority outcomes in local areas delivered by local authorities, either by themselves or with other service providers. As part of CAA there will continue to be a scheduled programme of inspections for services for vulnerable children (looked-after children and safeguarding) and for youth offending, led by the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation respectively.
	Other inspections under CAA will be primarily triggered by risk, and carried out by the relevant independent local services inspectorates, either individually or jointly. The inspectorates involved in carrying out CAA and associated inspections will be the Audit Commission, the new Care Quality Commission, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation, and Ofsted.
	The inspectorates are aiming to publish the final framework for the operation of CAA shortly.
	All audits of local authorities will continue to be carried out by external auditors appointed by the Audit Commission.

Tenant Services Authority: Publicity

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Tenant Services Authority has spent on  (a) branding,  (b) external public affairs consultancies and  (c) external public relations.

Iain Wright: The Tenant Services Authority (TSA) has spent 90,066 on research, planning and delivery work to develop the TSA brand.
	The TSA has spent 56,133.14 to date on engaging with its stakeholders, further to its statutory objective to deliver effective, tenant-focused regulation.
	The TSA has spent 17,019.79 on external public relations.

Travelling People: Caravan Sites

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what methodology her Department uses to determine whether an unauthorised Travellers' camp is  (a) tolerated and  (b) not tolerated in circumstances where the camp is on (i) the Travellers' own land and (ii) land not owned by the Travellers and has been established without planning permission; what definition her Department uses of (A) tolerated and (B) not tolerated unauthorised Travellers' camps; and who is responsible for determining whether such camps are tolerated.

Iain Wright: It is for the local authority or landowner to decide whether to tolerate an unauthorised site.
	For the purposes of the bi-annual count of Gypsy and Traveller caravans, we ask that local authorities count caravans:
	on unauthorised encampments as tolerated where the local authority or landowner has decided not to seek the removal of the encampment; and not tolerated where the local authority, police or landowner are using, or preparing to use powers to remove the encampment.
	on unauthorised developments as tolerated where the local authority has decided not to seek their removal (this includes those developments with temporary planning permission); and not tolerated where a planning enforcement notice has been served, the results of a planning inquiry are pending, an injunction has been sought or where the compliance period has been extended.
	Advice on toleration is set out in DOE circular 18/94 'Gypsy Sites Policy and Unauthorised Camping', as amended, and 'Guidance on Managing Unauthorised Camping'.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Higher Education

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what progress has been made towards the target of having half of all young people experience higher education.

David Lammy: Over half of young people from all social backgrounds aspire to go to university and we are helping them to fulfil that aspiration. The latest UCAS figures show that acceptances from England are up by 7.4 per cent. (22,764) on the same point last year, and this year's figures are the highest ever. Increasing initial participation in higher education towards 50 per cent. of those aged 18-30 is challenging but an essential investment in our future prosperity.

Higher Education

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills when he plans to announce a timetable for the proposed review of higher education.

David Lammy: My right hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Clarke) the then Secretary of State for Education and Skills, told the House on 8 January 2004 that there would be an independent review of tuition fees, reporting to the House, once we had evidence on the first three years of the variable fee regime. The first three years of operation will not be concluded until autumn next year.

Higher Education

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what progress is being made on his Department's University Challenge programme.

David Lammy: At the end of the new 'University Challenge' consultation we were delighted to receive 27 initial expressions of interest from across the country. These demonstrated a widespread recognition of the value of university centres to education, economic development, regeneration, and the cultural life of rural areas, towns and cities. HEFCE are currently preparing a policy document to guide formal applications. We expect to fund 20 new local higher education centres over the next six years.

Higher Education

Martin Linton: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent progress has been made in the higher education debate; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: We have a world-class higher education system in this country with rising student numbers and an increasing world share of citations and high impact research papers. Total Government investment in HE will rise by 30 per cent. in real terms by the end of this CSR period compared to 1997. This is in sharp contrast to the 36 per cent. fall in funding per student between 1989 and 1997. We have also doubled investment in research.
	I want to ensure our university system will still be world class in the future. That is why we are currently consulting on the framework for higher education for the next 10 to 15 years.
	The debate is progressing well, and I am delighted by the healthy level of engagement and discussion it has provoked. As well as the contributions we published last year, we have received a number of submissions from businesses and others who depend on universities for their success. We will publish these shortly.

Skills Levels

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what support his Department provides to businesses, community leaders and training providers for them to work together to raise skills levels in their local communities.

Si�n Simon: The Learning and Skills Council is working closely with businesses, colleges, community leaders and training providers to raise skill levels in local communities. Further education colleges are playing a crucial role in bringing communities together. This includes providing English for speakers of other languages courses, which underpin broader efforts to ensure community cohesion. The LSC is also working closely with local authorities through local area agreements and multi area agreements to ensure that skills provision is better aligned to local need. This local focus will be carried through to the Skills Funding Agency where local colleges and providers will work with the SFA and other key partners to respond quickly to the needs of local communities.

Further Education Colleges

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of capital funding for further education colleges; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: It is thanks to this Government's commitment to colleges that investment in capital projects will amount to 2.3 billion between 2007 and 2010. In total, since the programme began under this Government, nearly 700 projects, at 330 colleges have been agreed. Only 42 colleges have not yet benefited from investment. The programme has therefore been a huge success.
	In 1997 not a single penny was spent on FE colleges, with a National Audit Offce report saying FE buildings were not fit to learn in. The Opposition have committed to cutting 610 million from the skills and universities budget; and have repeatedly refused to say whether they would continue our capital programme. Until they come clean about where their cuts would fall, every college should be worried.
	I want to make it clear today that there is no freeze in the capital programme. There is no question the 110 million brought forward for this year, and the 100 million for next year will be spent.

Research Funding: Universities

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans he has for research funding for universities in the next three years.

David Lammy: Altogether public investment in science and research will reach over 6 billion by 2010-11, taking Government support for the UK's research base to its highest level ever.
	This investment is essential in these economically challenging times. It is crucial we continue to invest in research and higher level skills, as this will underpin our recovery and be key to our future prosperity.

Economic Downturn

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what discussions he has had with higher education institutions and universities on assistance they can provide to people and businesses during the economic downturn; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: I have met with university vice-chancellors, representatives of university careers services and graduate recruiters to discuss the response of universities to the economic downturn. The recent publication Standing Together provides impressive evidence of universities helping business.
	I am particularly pleased that HEFCE is supporting universities to help individuals through the announcement of the 50 million Economic Challenge Investment Fund announced earlier this week. We are also helping graduates re-train by trebling the number of professional and career development loans and working with major employers and the third sector to encourage internships and volunteering, both of which provide valuable employability skills for young graduates.

Further Education: Capital Projects

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans his Department has for funding capital projects in further education.

Si�n Simon: Since 1997, this Government have invested 2.4 billion modernising further education colleges, and plan to invest a further 2.3 billion in the next three years.
	However, the pace of demand for capital funding has increased. In addition there are signs that the ability of colleges to raise their own funds for projects is being affected by the downturn.
	The Learning and Skills Council will therefore examine the position of individual projects by early March before making further funding decisions.

University Places

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many university places were available at the start of the academic year  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09.

David Lammy: There continues to be strong growth in student numbers. There were 1,505,000 students enrolled at higher education institutions at the beginning of 2007/08. UCAS suggests an increase of around 7.4 per cent. in English-domiciled applicants who have been accepted on to full-time undergraduate courses for 2008/09. We are providing full funding for 30,000 more places in 2009-10 than we did in 2007-08.

Apprenticeships

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps he is taking to increase the number of people taking up apprenticeships.

Si�n Simon: As set out in the recent response to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) we are taking a wide range of steps. Most notably we recently launched the National Apprenticeships Vacancy Matching Service and announced a further 140 million to provide 35,000 extra places this year. From April 2009 we will be extending group training associations and creating apprenticeship training associations to help deliver the anticipated increases in the number of people taking up apprenticeships.

Further Education

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what work his Department is undertaking with the further education sector to provide training or retraining for those who become unemployed.

Si�n Simon: We are doing everything we can to help people through this tough time. Further education is at the heart of our response. We are investing 4.5 billion to give employers and individuals the skills they need to improve their competitiveness now and in the future. We have recently announced:
	83 million to provide training for a further 75,000 people who have been unemployed for six months or more;
	158 million to support those looking for work;
	140 million expansion of 35,000 apprenticeship places;
	350 million improved flexibilities in Train to Gain for bite-sized courses for SMEs;
	A trebling of the number of Professional Career Development Loans available so that up to 45,000 learners a year can use loans as a way to finance reskilling; and
	Greater flexibility in how colleges and providers use their funding below Level 2.
	'FE Works', a good practice guide recently published by the Association of Colleges, provides further examples of ways the sector is responding to the economic downturn.

North Notts College

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what plans he has to modernise the buildings of North Notts College.

Si�n Simon: Since 1997, this Government have invested 2.4 billion in redeveloping and modernising further education collegesincluding support for North Nottinghamshire College. In addition we have plans to invest a further 2.3 billion in the next three years.
	The Learning and Skills Council is responsible for the administration of the capital programme. Decisions on individual proposals are an operational matter for the council.
	I will ask the council's chief executive, Mark Haysom, to write to my hon. Friend.

Construction Industry

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills when he next expects to meet representatives of the construction industry to discuss skills levels in that industry.

Si�n Simon: The Department is in regular touch with representatives of the construction industry about the industry's skills base. We are working closely with them to tackle key current issues like ensuring support for apprentices, and also the longer term skills challenges the industry faces.

Employment-related Skills

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent steps he has taken to improve the employment-related skills levels of people with low skills.

Si�n Simon: This Government are committed to giving real help to people who want to improve their skills levels during this difficult time. Alongside existing programmes and training provision, we have announced new measures to provide employment-focused training for people facing or at risk of redundancy, as well as those who have been out of work for a longer period of time:
	158 million, comprising funding from Train to Gain and the European Social Fund, which will allow training providers to deliver a holistic service to support individuals facing redundancy and employers.
	83 million to provide 75,000 additional places in colleges and other training providers for people who have been out of work for more than six months.
	140 million to fund an additional 35,000 apprentices nationally in both the public and private sectors.

Departmental Compensation

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the total amount of compensation claims in respect of which legal proceedings are complete made against  (a) his Department and  (b) public bodies for which his Department is responsible in the last 12 months was; and what the nature of each of the 10 highest such claims in each case was.

Si�n Simon: One compensation claim was settled at some 71,000 (including costs) in the past 12 months. The claim arose out of a case of a former employee contracting mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. Another claim was settled and paid just over 12 months ago for the same condition although the solicitor's costs at some 16,000 for that claim were paid within the last 12 months.

Departmental Travel

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what expenditure his Department has incurred in providing transport for Ministers between Parliament and departmental premises in each year since the Department was established.

Si�n Simon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport on Monday 26 January,  Official Report, column 6W.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the ministerial code.

Departmental Working Hours

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how many days off in lieu were granted to staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) its non-departmental public bodies for working (i) in lunch breaks and (ii) at other times outside contracted hours, in the last year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the policy of his Department and its agencies is on granting staff time off in lieu for working  (a) in lunch breaks,  (b) in evenings and  (c) at other times outside contracted working hours; and if he will make a statement.

Si�n Simon: The information requested of the Department and its agencies is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	As part of flexible working arrangements, employees from Grade 6 to Executive Assistant can take time off in lieu for extra hours worked or adjust their working week to make up for shortfalls or excess hours work on a particular day. All flexible working arrangement records are held locally and a central record is not kept and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Flexible working arrangements are not available to members of the senior civil service.
	The Department's non-departmental public bodies do not keep central records.

Graduates: Taxation

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will assess what effect the introduction of a graduate tax would have on university students.

David Lammy: We have no plans to assess the effect of introducing a graduate tax for repayment of financial support made to higher education students. A graduate tax was considered alongside variable and fixed fee options as part of the student finance review in 2002 and the White Paper 'The future of higher education' in 2003.
	A number of disadvantages were identified including: the cost of a graduate tax (which is greater than variable fees and loans), the lack of any mechanism for early additional repayments and the slower rate of repayment of a graduate tax when compared with loans.
	Government concluded that the Graduate Contribution Scheme based on variable fees of up to 3,000 set by higher education institutions presented the best option for both students and universities and this was subsequently enacted via the Higher Education Act in 2004.

Higher Education: Advertising

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many advertisements to attract students were placed by each university in each year since 1997; which universities placed such advertisements; how many were placed  (a) in print newspapers and magazines,  (b) on a website and  (c) on television and radio; and at what cost in each case.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was formed in June 2007, following the Machinery of Government changes, and as a result we are only able to provide information from June 2007.
	The Department does not hold the information requested centrally and there would be a disproportionate cost to gather the information requested.

Higher Education: Northamptonshire

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what consideration the Higher Education Funding Council for England will give to the effect on local area regeneration of establishing a university in north Northamptonshire.

David Lammy: The Higher Education Funding Council for England will shortly publish its criteria for the assessment of proposals for new higher education centres. In our new University Challenge policy document launched last year we set out the full range of benefits which such centres can bring to local communities, including local and regional regeneration. The strongest proposals for new centres should be able to demonstrate the full range of benefits which our policy is designed to promote.

London Metropolitan University: Redundancy

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will make it his policy to minimise the number of redundancies at the London Metropolitan University; and if will make a statement.

David Lammy: London Metropolitan University is a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Acts. As such the Secretary of State has no powers to intervene in how London Metropolitan University chooses to operate its employment policies.

Research: Standards

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what proportion of research projects commissioned by the research councils in each of the last five years are collaborations between different disciplines;
	(2)  what proportion of research commissioned by the research councils in each of the last five years is considered multi-disciplinary.

David Lammy: Research councils define multidisciplinary research as research that brings together knowledge and modes of thinking from two or more disciplines or established fields of study. The proportion of research supported by each council classified as multidisciplinary research is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Multidisciplinary research as a proportion of research funded,  ( approximate ) 
			  Percentage 
			  Research Council  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) 9 14 27 
			 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 29 31 31 
			 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 44 40 41 
			 Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) 37 42 59 
			 Medical Research Council (MRC) 39 36 36 
			 Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) 42 47 39 
			 Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) 8 6 11 
			  Note: 1. Individual Councils use different ways of classifying multidisciplinary research and of collating relevant data. In addition, BBSRC, MRC, NERC and STFC also fund their own institutes and centres, which are intended to foster multidisciplinary research. Data on these are not included. 
		
	
	Equivalent data are not readily available for research funded prior to 2005-06.

Students: Children

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time students attending higher education institutions with children under the age of three receive a childcare grant.

David Lammy: The childcare grant is available for full-time, higher education students with dependent children in registered or approved childcare; it is not available to part-time students. In academic year 2007-08 there were 3,700 students with at least one child under three who were receiving childcare grant. While information is available on students who receive a childcare grant, information is not held centrally which identifies students with children under three who do not apply for a childcare grant. Therefore the proportion of students with children under three who receive a childcare grant is not known. Students receiving childcare grant make up around 1 per cent. of higher education students applying for some form of student finance support.

Students: Greater Manchester

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many people from Manchester, Withington constituency were admitted to universities in England in 2008.

David Lammy: In the 2006/07 academic year 1,765 students were admitted to English Higher Education Institutions from Manchester Withington parliamentary constituency. This figure covers entrants to courses of all levels and modes and has been rounded to the nearest five. This figure has been taken from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record and is based on a standard registration population.
	Figures for the 2007/08 academic year will be available from 29 January 2009, and for the 2008/09 academic year in January 2010.

Technology Strategy Board: Grants

David Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many offers of financial support by the Technology Strategy Board have not resulted in grants being awarded because matching funding requirements were not met in each month since June 2007.

David Lammy: For the period in question there were three projects that received an offer of grant from the Technology Strategy Board, but where no grant was paid due to the inability to provide the matched funding required.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Animal Experiments: Vaccination

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to ensure that the target animal batch safety testing of veterinary vaccines  (a) is not taking place under any existing licence and  (b) will not be permitted under any future licence unless an application for a waiver has been rejected by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate or the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate has identified a specific reason why an application cannot be made.

Meg Hillier: Under current arrangements, target animal batch safety testing of veterinary vaccines is authorised under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in project licences covering a range of safety tests, rather than on a product by product basis.
	The obligation on a project licence holder to seek a waiver to the requirement for such tests would be triggered by project licence standard condition 6 which requires that the minimum number of animals of the lowest degree of neurophysiological sensitivity is used in procedures causing the least pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm.
	The role of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Inspectorate, which is aware of the technical requirements, is to advise on whether and under what terms proposals for animal use should be authorised and to inspect to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the relevant project licence.

Antisocial Behaviour: Fixed Penalties

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to issue new guidance to the Association of Chief Police Officers on the issuing of penalty notices for disorder; and if she will make a statement.

Jack Straw: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government will be issuing revised operational guidance on the issuing of penalty notices for disorder to police forces in due course. Additionally, ACPO have issued guidance to police officers on the use of penalty notices for disorder in respect of certain offences.

Asylum

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the asylum support budget was in each of the last five years; and what it is projected to be in each of the next five years.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 16 December 2008
	Expenditure on asylum support in the four years from 2004-05 to 2007-08 was as follows:
	
		
			million 
			 2004-05 814 
			 2005-06 626 
			 2006-07 515 
			 2007-08 485 
		
	
	Budgeted expenditure for 2008-09 is 452 million. UKBA is currently reviewing plans and forecasts for future years and we are unable to provide information about budgets for these periods until plans have been finalised and agreed by the UKBA Board.

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the e-borders programme to cover all passenger movements in and out of the United Kingdom.

Phil Woolas: The e-Borders system will count all passenger and crew movements in and out of the UK by March 2014.
	This will be done by processing travel document information provided by carriers in advance of travel.

Burglary

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported incidents of domestic burglary there were in  (a) England and Wales,  (b) the South East,  (c) Hampshire and  (d) Romsey constituency in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: The available information on the number of offences recorded by the police is given in the following table.
	Crime statistics are not collected at constituency level. The area of Romsey comes within the Test Valley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) and therefore these figures have been provided.
	
		
			  Offences of burglary in a dwelling recorded by the police, 2003-04 to 2007-08 
			  Area  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 England and Wales 402,345 321,507 300,517 292,260 280,704 
			 South East region 40,879 34,629 33,576 32,706 30,098 
			 Hampshire police force area 7,030 5,415 5,810 5,451 5,300 
			 Test Valley CDRP 311 241 299 256 279

Crime

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in each of the last three years she or her predecessor was informed that an individual was about to be arrested.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 16 December 2008
	There are occasions where, in the course of the duties as Home Secretary, she is advised that an individual is about to be arrested. The information requested is not held centrally.

Crime: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reported cases of  (a) violence against the person,  (b) sexual offences,  (c) robbery,  (d) burglary,  (e) theft,  (f) fraud and forgery,  (g) criminal damage and  (h) drug offences there were in (i) Southampton, (ii) Test Valley borough and (iii) the ceremonial county of Hampshire in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: The available information on the number of offences recorded by the police is given in the following tables. These statistics relate to the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships (CDRPs) for Southampton and Test Valley, and for Hampshire police force area.
	
		
			  Table 1: Offences recorded for the Southampton CDRP, 2003-04 to 2007-08 
			  Offence group  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Violence against the person 6,685 7,274 7,745 8,515 8,800 
			 Sexual offences 519 566 541 507 527 
			 Robbery 277 269 369 435 354 
			 Burglary 3,560 3,175 3,220 2,877 2,728 
			 Offences against vehicles 5,674 4,213 4,847 5,426 4,037 
			 Other theft offences 8,067 8,132 8,602 7,926 7,652 
			 Fraud and forgery 1,502 2,108 1,499 1,390 1,190 
			 Criminal damage 9,151 8,753 9,017 9,246 8,302 
			 Drug offences 624 520 824 706 1,314 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Offences recorded for the Test Valley CDRP, 2003-04 to 2007-08 
			  Offence group  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Violence against the person 1,541 1,703 1,620 1,722 1,871 
			 Sexual offences 140 138 133 139 116 
			 Robbery 21 23 31 25 41 
			 Burglary 1,126 931 926 1,071 949 
			 Offences against vehicles 968 729 916 1,121 933 
			 Other theft offences 1,781 1,589 1,725 1,824 1,647 
			 Fraud and forgery 459 540 472 468 157 
			 Criminal damage 1,808 1,912 2,153 2,295 2,209 
			 Drug offences 163 187 103 103 219 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Offences recorded for the Hampshire  p olice  f orce area, 2003-04 to 2007-08 
			  Offence group  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Violence against the person 35,148 38,173 38,686 40,569 39,028 
			 Sexual offences 2,565 2,765 2,727 2,640 2,329 
			 Robbery 1,040 948 1,078 1,212 1,066 
			 Burglary 18,014 15,552 16,623 15,624 14,629 
			 Offences against vehicles 22,659 18,870 20,201 21,815 17,948 
			 Other theft offences 40,591 39,212 39,852 39,422 37,641 
			 Fraud and forgery 8,557 9,246 7,851 8,004 5,335 
			 Criminal damage 43,557 42,210 42,352 45,362 38,927 
			 Drug offences 3,967 3,773 4,037 4,073 5,754

Departmental Catering

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) directly-operated and  (b) franchised catering outlets her Department and its agencies provide for staff.

Phil Woolas: On available information the Home Office has no directly operated or franchised catering outlets. Staff restaurants are provide by contract caterers.

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her Department's average response time to a letter received from  (a) an hon. Member and  (b) a member of the public was in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of departments in replying to Members' correspondence. The report for 2007 was published on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 71-74WS.
	Information for 2008 is currently being collated and will be published as soon as it is ready. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.
	The specific information requested for 2008 is as follows:
	
		
			  Average response times 
			   Number of days 
			  Correspondence Category  2006  2007  2008 
			 Home Office ministerial correspondence 7.4 7.6 9.8 
			 Home Office public correspondence (letters) 10.0 9.7 16.6 
			 Home Office public correspondence (emails) 8.6 9.7 14.2 
			 UKBA ministerial correspondence - ministerial replies 22.1 19.6 20 
			 UKBA Ministerial Correspondence - official replies 24.3 16.9 16.4 
			  Note: The target for replying to Home Office Ministerial Correspondence is 15 working days. For all other correspondence categories it is 20 working days. UKBA figures for public letters and emails are not available.

Departmental Correspondence

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average her Department took to provide a substantive response to correspondence from members of the public in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: The average time taken to respond to correspondence from members of the publicletters and e-mailsis 15.6 working days.

Departmental Correspondence

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average her Department took to reply to correspondence from hon. Members in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members' correspondence. The report for 2007 was published on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 71-74WS.
	Information for 2008 is currently being collated and will be published as soon as it ready. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.
	The specific information requested is as follows for 2008:
	
		
			  Correspondence category  Average response time  2008 (days) 
			 Home Office ministerial correspondence 9.8 
			 UKBA ministerial correspondenceministerial replies 20 
			 UKBA ministerial correspondenceofficial replies 16.4 
			  Note: The target for replying to Home Office ministerial correspondence is 15 working days. For UKBA ministerial correspondence it is 20 working days.

Departmental Data Protection

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies have which allow contractors to store personal data of UK citizens overseas; for which contracts this applies; in which countries the data for each contract are held; and how many people have their data stored overseas in the case of each such contract.

Phil Woolas: The Home Department inclusive of its agencies does not hold a central register of contracts which allow contractors to store personal data of UK citizens overseas. To extract and collate the information from individual records would incur a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Languages

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) civil servants in her Department received coaching in a foreign language in the last 12 months; what expenditure her Department incurred in providing such coaching; and in what languages such coaching was provided.

Phil Woolas: In the last 12 months no Ministers within the Department received coaching in a foreign language. Information relating to the number of civil servants who have received such coaching and the expenditure such coaching incurred is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the Answer of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 962W, on departmental personnel, what the current figure is for staff without posts in her Department and its agencies; how many of the staff without posts were classified as such on returning from maternity leave; and how many of the staff without posts have been classified as such for at least  (a) six months and  (b) 12 months.

Phil Woolas: The position as at 31 December 2008 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Table 1: Staff classified as being without a post as at 31 December 2008 
			   Staff classified as: 
			   Being without a post  on returning from maternity leave  Being without a post for up to six months  Being without a post for more than six months but less than 12 months  Being without a post for more than 12 months 
			 Home Office HQ 0 11 0 (1) 
			 UK Border Agency 0 17 7 (1) 
			 Identity and Passport Service 0 0 0 0 
			 Criminal Records Bureau 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 0 28 7 (1) 
			 (1) Less than 5. 
		
	
	The 39 members of staff classified as being without posts represents 0.15 per cent. of the total Home Office workforce.
	These staff are currently undertaking work for the Department while a new post is actively sought, either within the Home Office and its agencies, or in another Government Department.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many special advisers were employed in her Department at each pay band on 30 November 2008; and what her Department's total expenditure on special advisers was in 2007-08.

Phil Woolas: I refer the hon. Member to the answer provided by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 15 January 2009,  Official Report, column 870W.

Departmental Procurement

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of invoices for goods and services procured from small and medium-sized businesses were paid within 10 days of receipt by  (a) her Department and  (b) the agencies for which her Department is responsible in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Home Department including United Kingdom Border Agency terms of payment was 26 days in 2006-07 and 2007-08 except in special circumstances, where an immediate payment was required. To provide this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	However, following the Prime Minister's commitment of 8 October that central Government Departments will make payment within 10 days we will additionally report 10 day payment performance and are able to report on this.
	Both the Identity and Passport Service and Criminal Records Bureau agencies do not hold the required information for 2006-07 and 2007-08 financial years and to obtain it would incur disproportionate cost.
	Following the announcement on 8 October both of these agencies are working towards paying SMEs within 10 days of receipt of invoices.

Departmental Surveys

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department's central media and communication unit spent on public surveys in each of the last three years.

Phil Woolas: In the last three full financial years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08, the Home Office central communications unit estimates that the total expenditure on public surveys is as follows:
	
		
			
			 2005-06 901,677 
			 2006-07 763,097 
			 2007-08 631,996

Domestic Violence

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of domestic violence police in each police authority have dealt with in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: From the information collected centrally on recorded crime, it is not possible to identify recorded cases of domestic violence. Such offences are not specifically defined by law and details of the individual circumstances of offences are not collected.

Domestic Violence: Research

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department has evaluated on the link between cases of domestic violence and subsequent murders.

Jacqui Smith: The Home Office has not commissioned any specific research on this.
	The Home Office does routinely collect recorded crime information, via the Homicide Index, on the relationship of homicide victims to the principal suspect. The latest published information for 2007-08 can be found online on the Home Office website:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb0209.pdf

Draft Constitutional Renewal Bill

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 24 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 1241-42W, on demonstrations: Parliament Square, when the Government's response to the Joint Committee on the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill's report, stated in the answer to be imminent, will be published.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 20 January 2009
	The Ministry of Justice is co-ordinating the Government's response to the report of the Joint Committee on the draft Constitutional Renewal Bill. We continue to give careful consideration to the recommendations on protests around Parliament which are set out in the Joint Committee's report and a full response will be published ahead of the Constitutional Renewal Bill's introduction to Parliament.
	The Government are keen to give a substantial response to the Joint Committee but this has meant resolving all outstanding policy issues before the Bill is introduced. We recognise that there has been a long period since the publication of the report, but believe it is better to respond fully to the committee's recommendations on all aspects of the draft Bill. We intend to respond as early as possible in 2009.

Drugs: Crime Prevention

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the budget for her Department's drug control programme was spent on  (a) enforcement and  (b) treatment in each year since 2004.

Alan Campbell: Drug treatment is the responsibility of the Department for Health, and the Home Office does not therefore commit any of the Department's budget to drug treatment.
	Figures published in the Updated Drug Strategy 2002 show estimates of the labelled and non-labelled total expenditure on drugs, and on strands of the strategy, calculated on the basis of its four thematic aims. Elements of enforcement fall within two of these four aimssupply reduction and protecting communitiesalthough these aims will also include expenditure on items which do not relate to enforcement of the law. As it is not possible to disaggregate these figures, those which have been given for expenditure on enforcement from 2003-04 to 2005-06 will therefore exceed the real level of expenditure.
	Figures for 2006-07, while not published, have been calculated on the same basis as those for 2003-04 to 2005-06. Figures for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are labelled expenditure only, as published in the drug strategy Drugs: protecting families and communities. These figures have been calculated on a departmental basis and, while expenditure on enforcement activity will fall broadly within the departmental expenditure of the Home Office, the figure will exceed the real level of expenditure on enforcement activity only. Similarly, the Department of Health will fund activity which would not fall within a rigid definition of treatment, nor is all expenditure on treatmentparticularly that for young peoplecovered by the Department of Health budget. These figures should therefore be treated as indicative.

Drugs: Hillingdon

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crack house closures there were in  (a) Uxbridge constituency and  (b) the London borough of Hillingdon in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: The Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 introduced the provision for police to serve a closure notice on any premises that is believed by the police to be used for the production, supply or use of Class A drugs, and which is causing serious nuisance or disorder.
	The Home Office collects data on the number of closure orders issued through the voluntary Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) survey of antisocial behaviour tools and powers. Latest available data from this survey cover the period from October 2003 to September 2007 and show that in the Hillingdon CDRP area no such orders were served in this period. Data are not collected at a parliamentary constituency level, although as the Uxbridge constituency is entirely within the Hillingdon CDRP area, there have also been no closure orders issued.
	Data for 2007-08 will be published early in 2009.

Entry Clearances: China

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library a copy of the guidance issued to staff for the purposes of determining tourist visa applications from applicants from mainland China; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 27 January  2009
	All tourist visa applications are considered against paragraph 41 of the Immigration Rules for General Visitors. In addition to paragraph 41 of the Immigration Rules, Chinese tourist visitors seeking leave to enter under the approved destinations status (ADS) agreement with China will have their applications considered against paragraph 56G-56J of the immigration rules.
	Chinese tourist visitors who apply under paragraph 56G-56J of the immigration rules are required to use an accredited ADS travel agent, of which there are over 60 throughout China.
	All visa officers are subject to intensive training in the United Kingdom prior to overseas deployment to ensure they are able to assess all types of visa applications to enter the United Kingdom. The guidance used throughout this training period and subsequent reference material used by visa officers is substantial. All immigration rules, including those for paragraph 41 and 56G-56J, are publicly available and can be located on the internet. The section on Visit and Transit in Entry Clearance Guidance gives additional guidance to entry clearance officers for dealing with visit visa applications. This guidance can also be found on the internet.

Entry Clearances: China

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants for visas from mainland China were refused visas in each of the last three years, broken down by category of refusal.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 27 January  2009
	The following table provides issue and refusal statistics per year for 2006, 2007 and 2008 broken down into categories for total applications received in mainland China at our embassy in Beijing and the Consulate-Generals in Shanghai, Chongqing and Guangzhou.
	
		
			  UK Border Agency  Applications from  m ainland China 
			   Endorsement  Applications  i ssued  Applications r efused  Percentage i ssued 
			 2006 EEA Family Permits 66 13 84 
			  Family Visit 16,664 1,332 93 
			  Other Non Settlement 1,787 185 91 
			  Other Visitor 95,815 5,938 94 
			  Settlement 1,259 204 86 
			  Student 21,149 2,578 89 
			  Transit 2,403 202 92 
			  Work permit 5,115 512 91 
			  Working Holiday Maker 11 5 69 
			  Total 144,269 10,969 93 
			  
			 2007 EEA Family Permits 87 18 83 
			  Family Visit 18,814 1,261 94 
			  Other Non Settlement 2,209 212 91 
			  Other Visitor 101,529 6,731 94 
			  Settlement 1,274 267 83 
			  Student 24,176 5,179 82 
			  Transit 1,903 148 93 
			  Work permit 4,519 411 92 
			  Working Holiday Maker 13 7 65 
			  Total 154,524 14,234 92 
			  
			 2008 EEA Family Permits 69 25 73 
			  Family Visit 18,946 1,737 92 
			  Other Non Settlement 4,269 388 92 
			  Other Visitor 81,520 5,663 94 
			  PBS Tier 1 357 196 65 
			  PBS Tier 2 0 0 0 
			  PBS Tier 5 0 0 0 
			  Settlement 1,295 264 83 
			  Student 28,274 9,159 76 
			  Transit 1,091 140 89 
			  Work permit 3,326 514 87 
			  Working Holiday Maker 11 4 73 
			  Total 139,158 18,090 88

Entry Clearances: Marriage

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times application of the two-year rule has resulted in the removal of the right of a spouse to remain in the UK in the event of relationship failure in 2007-08; and what steps were taken following the application of the rule in each case.

Phil Woolas: The specific data requested could be obtained by the detailed examination of individual case records only at disproportionate cost.
	In order to qualify for settlement on the basis of marriage, an applicant must show that they are still married to the person they were admitted or granted an extension of stay to join and that relationship is subsisting. If the parties are no longer married or their relationship no longer subsists, the applicant will not meet the requirements of the immigration rules for settlement and the application will fall for refusal on this basis.

Foreign Workers

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 706-07W, on foreign workers, if she will break down the figures by year, and indicate the percentage of the relevant work force they constitute.

Phil Woolas: The following tables provide information on the number of work permits approved and Worker Registration Scheme certificates issued by occupation category. We are unable to provide an indication of the percentage of the relevant work force they constitute as data are not held on the size of each work force.
	
		
			  Work permit approvals for the period 1 January 2000-30 September 2008 
			  Occupation  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  Total 
			 Acupuncturist 10 25 35 40 25 40 20 20 20 230 
			 Assistant dentist 160 115 140 105 70 20 30 20 5 655 
			 Assistant optometrist 0 (1) (1) (1) 0 0 0 (1) 0 5 
			 Biomedical scientist 15 45 90 100 110 120 135 100 75 785 
			 Chiropodist/podiatrist 10 10 5 5 5 (1) (1) (1) (1) 45 
			 Chiropractor 55 40 15 25 25 25 25 25 10 245 
			 Dental anaesthetist (1) 10 15 5 5 5 5 (1) 0 45 
			 Dental nurse 0 20 40 40 40 100 60 45 40 380 
			 Dental surgeon 195 260 275 225 160 175 215 155 120 1,785 
			 Dietician 20 40 70 50 55 45 30 20 20 350 
			 Doctor 0 840 2,440 3,265 4,315 3,880 3,035 910 750 19,435 
			 Foundation programme doctor 0 0 0 0 0 0 355 220 130 705 
			 Hospital consultant 0 30 75 140 170 95 80 50 50 690 
			 Medical practitioner 580 940 605 410 205 95 55 35 55 2,975 
			 Midwife 90 90 95 100 85 85 70 90 65 780 
			 Nurse 15,040 24,265 28,640 29,490 29,095 22,580 13,615 8,520 7,060 178,305 
			 Occupational therapist 115 165 250 205 235 250 180 155 120 1,680 
			 Optician 90 120 105 90 90 75 80 45 30 735 
			 Other health/medical occupation 3,345 3,800 7,005 10,670 13,670 10,030 6,495 3,350 2,470 60,845 
			 Pharmacist 580 575 620 620 645 585 660 685 685 5,655 
			 Physiotherapist 195 325 425 440 460 410 305 245 130 2,935 
			 Psychiatrist 120 220 240 215 190 140 110 40 20 1,295 
			 Psychologist 55 45 65 65 45 40 30 20 10 375 
			 Radiographer 75 165 400 435 510 450 345 445 250 3,075 
			 Senior carer 0 0 0 0 0 1,870 5,690 2,250 2,660 12,465 
			 Senior house officer 0 0 0 0 0 0 640 345 55 1,045 
			 Social worker 185 380 640 940 1,050 945 785 570 450 5,955 
			 Specialist registrar 0 0 0 0 0 0 595 250 155 1,000 
			 Speech therapist 50 80 70 65 40 45 35 35 15 440 
			 Total 20,990 32,605 42,350 47,755 51,305 42,115 33,675 18,655 15,455 304,910 
			  Note: Work permit approvals includes all work permit application typesincluding work permit extensions, change of employment and technical changes to existing work permits and therefore does not equate to the number of individuals to whom permits were issued. The figures do not equate to the number of individual nationals because they include those applications approved to extend or amend an existing permit or where the individual has moved to another job with a different employer. Additionally, not all of those who are granted a permit take up the job, some may be refused entry clearance or further leave to remain. 
		
	
	
		
			  Worker Registration Scheme certificates granted for the period 1 May 2004-30 September 2008 
			  Occupation  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  Total 
			 Alternative/complementary medicine specialist 5 10 5 5 5 35 
			 Anaesthetist 30 65 35 15 25 170 
			 Care assistants and home carers 2,860 6,880 6,285 4,340 2,410 22,775 
			 Chiropodist 0 0 0 (1) 0 (1) 
			 Consultant, hospital 20 105 50 50 30 255 
			 Dental hygienist 15 30 10 15 5 80 
			 Dental nurse 85 130 110 65 35 420 
			 Dental practitioner 20 235 85 30 10 385 
			 Dietician (1) 0 0 (1) (1) 5 
			 Doctor (hospital) 60 230 250 205 120 860 
			 General practitioner 15 50 35 25 10 130 
			 Manager, care home 5 10 5 10 10 40 
			 Manager, health and social services 15 25 20 55 25 135 
			 Midwife (1) 5 (1) (1) (1) 5 
			 Nurse 35 125 120 90 60 425 
			 Nursing auxiliaries and assistants 135 145 150 75 65 570 
			 Optician 20 10 15 15 5 65 
			 Pharmacist/pharmacologist 40 135 210 220 130 730 
			 Physiologist (1) 5 5 5 0 10 
			 Physiotherapist 10 25 20 10 5 70 
			 Psychiatrist 5 15 25 5 5 45 
			 Psychologist 5 5 (1) (1) (1) 15 
			 Researcher (medical) 30 110 100 110 85 430 
			 Residential wardens and Houseparents 45 60 55 70 55 285 
			 Social Worker 55 145 115 50 25 390 
			 Surgeon 10 35 15 15 5 75 
			 Technician, medical 25 65 75 125 70 360 
			 Ward Sister 5 (1) 5 5 (1) 15 
			 Warden (care home) 15 15 20 10 10 65 
			 Total 3,560 8,660 7,820 5,620 3,200 28,855 
			 (1) Indicates one or two  Notes: 1. The figures are for initial applications only; they do not include multiple applications, where an individual is doing more than one job simultaneously nor re-registrations, where an individual has changed employers. 2. Data presented up to the same period as the current published Accession Monitoring report. 3. Figures are rounded to nearest five. 4. Because of rounding figures may not add up to totals shown. 
		
	
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. The occupational categories used are not compatible with the Standard Occupational Classification.

Genetics: Databases

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 7 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 994-96W, on genetics: databases, how many new profiles have been added to the national DNA database in each month since March 2008, broken down by police force; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: It is understood that this question refers to the number of crime scene sample profiles added to the National DNA Database, since a separate question has been asked on the number of people added in each month from 18 January 2008 to date.
	The number of crime scene samples added in each of the nine months from April 2008 to December 2008 for all police forces is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  NDNADCrime scene profiles loaded by  force and by month April  to December 2008 
			  Force  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December  Total  April to December 
			 Avon and Somerset 128 136 125 123 112 145 126 129 111 1,135 
			 Bedfordshire 29 52 35 60 56 61 49 43 40 425 
			 British Transport 64 42 44 44 34 39 57 30 37 391 
			 Cambridgeshire 46 53 52 55 51 63 56 48 63 487 
			 Cheshire 141 93 92 82 91 124 78 107 84 892 
			 City of London Police 5 6 8 6 4 6 0 4 2 41 
			 Cleveland 40 40 23 26 22 21 20 20 15 227 
			 Cumbria 40 22 45 30 35 19 33 28 28 280 
			 Derbyshire 73 63 81 49 54 41 66 57 36 520 
			 Devon and Cornwall 69 60 66 63 63 49 53 48 55 526 
			 Dorset 38 34 23 39 34 22 37 35 26 288 
			 Durham 43 45 36 32 33 39 29 41 48 346 
			 Dyfed-Powys / Haverford West 10 14 12 12 15 15 17 12 10 117 
			 Essex 89 104 97 86 101 88 91 70 78 804 
			 Gloucestershire 17 24 18 26 18 21 30 21 26 201 
			 Greater Manchester police 329 239 310 268 327 264 370 321 280 2,708 
			 Gwent 38 33 28 32 18 29 29 36 33 276 
			 Hampshire 115 98 146 111 109 101 112 72 79 943 
			 Hertfordshire 53 56 59 51 49 49 41 41 63 462 
			 Humberside 73 113 85 98 76 86 87 60 64 742 
			 Kent 242 184 186 239 223 231 224 166 187 1,882 
			 Lancashire 250 234 184 183 181 165 162 130 105 1,594 
			 Leicestershire 54 71 53 77 53 66 69 42 52 537 
			 Lincolnshire 47 42 33 38 33 33 34 26 30 316 
			 Merseyside 139 130 166 125 126 144 174 147 111 1,262 
			 Metropolitan police 566 480 531 585 464 562 477 449 438 4,552 
			 Norfolk 7 117 59 68 51 65 52 43 35 497 
			 North Wales 90 73 66 86 69 69 65 54 54 626 
			 North Yorkshire 30 25 35 25 27 24 25 22 19 232 
			 Northamptonshire 61 85 55 71 60 66 94 52 99 643 
			 Northumbria 95 138 112 146 109 141 144 152 107 1,144 
			 Nottinghamshire 68 75 41 47 64 58 40 52 61 506 
			 South Wales Constabulary 109 104 106 63 80 70 94 85 54 765 
			 South Yorkshire 94 131 79 105 90 88 85 88 73 833 
			 Staffordshire 105 87 87 67 79 101 81 94 70 771 
			 Suffolk 33 55 29 40 48 25 37 40 23 330 
			 Surrey 53 63 51 59 47 56 49 47 62 487 
			 Sussex 175 149 158 161 138 149 184 139 123 1,376 
			 Thames Valley 154 121 122 118 97 127 114 115 119 1,087 
			 Warwickshire Police 32 26 28 34 14 36 21 30 32 253 
			 West Mercia 99 64 97 78 84 89 76 54 55 696 
			 West Midlands 240 188 207 167 204 186 200 174 143 1,709 
			 West Yorkshire 201 204 194 168 142 186 164 136 115 1,510 
			 Wiltshire 40 37 45 29 26 19 24 31 26 277 
			 England and Wales Total 4,424 4,210 4,109 4,072 3,811 4,038 4,070 3,591 3,371 35,696 
			 Total other forces(1) 169 121 107 142 95 240 205 136 130 1,345 
			 Total all forces 4,593 4,331 4,216 4,214 3,906 4,278 4,275 3,727 3,501 37,041 
			 (1) Eight Scottish forces, PSNI, Jersey, Guernsey, Ministry of Defence Police etc.

Genetics: Databases

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will reduce the length of time for which the police retain DNA samples of people who have not been convicted of any offence.

Vernon Coaker: We are considering what steps are required to implement the decision of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of S and Marper following the Court's judgment on 4 December 2008. As my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary indicated on 16 December 2008 in her speech to the Intellect Trade Association, the detailed proposals for change will be subject to public consultation in a Forensics White Paper to be published later this year.

Graffiti

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will make it her policy that incidents of graffiti be recorded separately from other criminal damage.

Alan Campbell: Recorded crimes (notifiable offences) such as criminal damage are broken down at a main offence group level based on legal definitions. Sir Ronnie Flanagan's independent Review of Policing published on 8 February 2008 focused on the need to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy including the amount of information collected by officers for crime recording purposes. The extra breakdowns requested would place an additional burden on the police and there are no plans to ask forces to do this at this time.

Human Trafficking

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals resident in Peterborough constituency have been  (a) arrested,  (b) charged with and  (c) found guilty of offences related to (i) trafficking persons to the UK for the purposes of sexual exploitation and (ii) running a brothel since May 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Campbell: holding answer 27 January 2009
	The Home Office holds figures on crime by force area only and not by residence of offenders.
	Records from the UK Human Trafficking Centre show that since May 2005 there have been nine arrests for human trafficking in Cambridgeshire with one conviction for trafficking. Of the remaining eight cases four were not progressed and four convicted of other offences.
	Statistics from the Crown Prosecution Service indicate that there have been a total of 48 people charged under sections 33 and 34 (a) of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 since May 2005 in Cambridgeshire whose cases reached first hearing at a magistrates court. CPS does not have data held centrally on the number of convictions.

Identity Cards: Foreigners

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to use the receipts from foreign nationals from charges in respect of  (a) identity cards and  (b) registering biometric information to meet the cost to the public purse of the identity card scheme; and what estimate she has made of the amount of such receipts from foreign nationals in each of the next 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: The operational cost of the Identity Cards for Foreign Nationals scheme, including capturing and registering biometric information, will be fully recovered through the application fees.
	We review and set fees annually. We do not currently have estimates of fee income for each of the next 10 years as fees have not yet been set for future years. We will continue to set fees in a way which ensures those who benefit from the system make an appropriate contribution towards the end to end costs of the immigration system.

Identity Cards: Internet

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of visits to the mylifemyid website had originated from Government internet addresses between the establishment of the site and the end of 2008.

Meg Hillier: It is not possible to provide the information requested as the web analytics package that is used for mylifemyid (Google Analytics) does not provide the IP addresses of people visiting the website.

Illegal Immigrants

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) educational facilities and  (b) health care facilities have been (i) raided on suspicion of and (ii) fined for providing a service to an illegal immigrant by the UK Border Agency and its predecessors since 2004; and what the (A) offence and (B) amount of the fine was in each case.

Jacqui Smith: The UK Border Agency does not specifically conduct operational enforcement visits to educational or health care facilities that might be providing a service to an illegal immigrant nor has a fine been issued in such circumstances.
	The UK Border Agency does conduct compliance visits to educational providers to ensure that they are a bona fide establishment and will act on any intelligence it receives that immigration offenders might be present at certain premises or that a business is employing illegal workers.
	If an employer is found to be employing an illegal migrant worker, then they may be subject to a civil penalty of up to 10,000 for each illegal worker or, in more serious cases, criminal prosecution. If convicted on indictment, the employer may face an unlimited fine and, in some cases, imprisonment for up to two years.

Illegal Immigrants

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many suspected illegal immigrants were discovered as lorry stowaways at motorway service areas, broken down by location, in each month since January 2005.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested about how many illegal immigrants have registered at reception centres in (a) Liverpool and (b) Croydon following detection as lorry stowaways is not available from existing records.

Illegal Immigrants

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants have registered at reception centres in  (a) Liverpool and  (b) Croydon following detection as lorry stowaways in each month since January 2005.

Jacqui Smith: The UK Border Agency's National Operations Database (NOD) records the number of individuals arrested and referred to the Agency by the police broken down by office and not where the individual was discovered. The number of lorry stowaways arrested and referred to the UK Border Agency by the police since August 2005 to November 2008 broken down by office is as follows at Annex A.
	This information has only been recorded since August 2005.
	The figures provided do not constitute part of National Statistics as it is based on management information. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols and should be treated as provisional.
	
		
			  Annex A: Lorry stowaways arrested by the police and referred to the UK Border Agency: 2005-06 
			   2005  2006  
			  Local enforcement office  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Ma r  Total 
			 24hr Duty Office Manchester6 6 
			 Becket House London 6 9  7 3 2  7 34 
			 Bedford 13 16 10 17 4 10 22 8 100 
			 Bristol 3 7 3 8 10 20 5 11 67 
			 Cardiff 9 3 2  6 5 6 4 35 
			 Communications House London 12 3  1 5 1 1 1 24 
			 Croydon Enforcement Unit 10  2 7  3 2 3 27 
			 Dallas Court Manchester 1 2   1   1 5 
			 Dorset1 1 
			 East Midlands Enforcement 22 5 13 10 7 10 9 21 97 
			 Eaton House Middlesex 40 57 46 30 22 30 10 34 269 
			 Edinburgh  1  1   1  3 
			 Felixstowe   2 2  4 11 6 25 
			 Glasgow Enforcement Unit 21 2   5 
			 Humberside  1 1  1   5 8 
			 Leeds/Bradford  3 4 1  1  2 11 
			 Liverpool 11 1 9 2 14 5 5 13 60 
			 Mid Kent Enforcement Unit 16 2  2 3  5  28 
			 Midlands Enforcement Unit 6 17 19 10 7 3 8 4 74 
			 Norfolk Enforcement Office  2 1 1 3  3  10 
			 North Shields 1  1  24 
			 Plymouth  1 1  2 
			 Portsmouth 2 1 4 4 4 7 5 1 28 
			 South Yorkshire  1  1 1 1  1 5 
			 Southampton  1 1 5  11 5  23 
			 St. Ives 15 5 5 5 13 9 1 7 60 
			 Stansted Enforcement Unit 15 4 21 8 20 5 6 2 81 
			 Stoke  12 3  15 
			 Swansea  1   1 
			 Grand Total 184 154 148 122 127 130 105 138 1,108 
			  Note: These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional.  Source:  Specific National Operations Database (NOD) Operational Activity Report (OAR) 
		
	
	
		
			  Lorry stowaways arrested by the police and referred to the UK Border Agency: 200 6 -0 7 
			   2006  2007  
			  Local enforcement office  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Ma r  Total 
			 24hr Duty Office Manchester 1 2 1 4 6 2 3 1 20 
			 Aberdeen  1   1 
			 Becket House London 3 2 5 1 2 5 4  27 9 3 7 68 
			 Bedford 10 2 12 1 1 3 11 4 7 21 26 16 114 
			 Boston  8 9  17 
			 Bristol 2 6 11   1 6 7 3 1  11 48 
			 Cardiff  4 4  8  1 2 2 3   24 
			 Communications House London 3  1 1 4 2 1  9 1   22 
			 Croydon Enforcement Unit   16  3 5 7 2  10 6  49 
			 Dallas Court Manchester  13  1 5 
			 Dorset   1  2 1 11   1   16 
			 East Midlands Enforcement 4 18 4  9 3 4 6 4 5 10 2 69 
			 Eaton House Middlesex 34 27 30 38 21 45 59 44 39 10 20 17 384 
			 Edinburgh1  1  2 4 
			 Felixstowe 8  9 1 7  6 39 43 
			 Grantham  14   14 
			 Humberside  3 11  5 
			 Kent Arrest Team 1   3 4 
			 Leeds/Bradford 7 9 4  20 
			 Lincoln 1 3   4 
			 Liverpool 4 7  1 1 1 1   5   20 
			 Mid Kent Enforcement Unit   8  2 3 3 4 20 
			 Midlands Enforcement Unit 14 19 10 7 7 7 18 8 5 6 1 34 136 
			 Norfolk Enforcement Office  4  3  2  1 10 
			 North Shields 1   2 2  2 1 8 
			 Plymouth1  1   2 
			 Portsmouth   8 3 5 6  1 3   2 28 
			 South Yorkshire 1   2   3  1  2  9 
			 Southampton 7  5  4 1   17 
			 St. Ives 8 14 23 6 11 9 8 14 5 2 12 4 116 
			 Stansted Enforcement Unit 9  16 13 7 4 19 6 12 7 8 13 114 
			 Stoke  11  2 4 
			 Swansea 1  2 4 7 
			 Teesside 1  3  5   1 10 
			 Grand Total 118 115 162 75 92 99 172 113 134 118 105 129 1,432 
			  Note: These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional.  Source:  Specific NOD OAR report. 
		
	
	
		
			  Lorry stowaways arrested by the police and referred to the UK Border Agency: 2007-08 
			   2007  2008 
			  Local enforcement office  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Dec  Jan  Feb  Mar  Total 
			 24hr Duty Office, Manchester1  1  4 6 
			 Aberdeen 1 3   4 
			 ATLU, Anti Terrorist Liaison Unit  1   1 
			 Becket House London 8 10 6 6  2 5 4 3 3  4 51 
			 Bedford 11 16 7 4 17 27 21 43 17 47 37 31 278 
			 Boston 2  6 1 8  14 20 51 
			 Bristol 6 5 3 27 7 6 16 13 4 7  6 100 
			 Cardiff 12  2  4 2 2 1 23 
			 Communications House London 9  1 9  2 3 13  1  2 40 
			 Croydon Enforcement Unit  4  10 5 17 7 22 9 29 18 6 127 
			 Dallas Court Manchester  3   25 
			 Dorset 13 6   4 1 1 10 1   1 37 
			 ER Dover 36 28 81 141 188 170 236 137 1,017 
			 East Midlands Enforcement 15 14   3 8 10 29  20 17 9 125 
			 Eaton House Middlesex 4 33 54 46 15 62 51 84 31 60 23 18 481 
			 Edinburgh   1 1   2  4 
			 Felixstowe4  8 2  3 3  9 29 
			 Glasgow Enforcement Unit  3  6 9 
			 Humberside 1 2  1 1   2 29 
			 LCCG London Command Crime Group  1   1 
			 Leeds/Bradford 10 1 2 1 4  4 2 2 5 1  32 
			 Lincoln  1   1 
			 Liverpool  1 1  4 1 1 9  6 1 2 26 
			 Mid Kent Enforcement Unit 23 1  1  1   8 
			 Midlands Enforcement Unit 4 43 7 37 17 3 3 5 28 19 4 8 178 
			 Norfolk Enforcement Office   13 1 8 1 1 11 26 
			 North Shields1  4 3 3 2  2 9 24 
			 Plymouth  3   3 
			 Portsmouth 5 6 7 8 11 6 17 10 6 10  6 92 
			 South Yorkshire  5 1 1 2 3 4 4 4 3 9 2 38 
			 St. Ives 7 9  5 12  19 10 10 36 19 14 141 
			 Stansted Enforcement Unit 5 4 4 19 10 9 16 18 12 28 37 7 169 
			 Stoke 4 3 3 2 12 
			 Teesside   1  1  1 2 9 3   17 
			 Grand Total 115 162 103 179 156 194 269 429 353 464 426 315 3,165 
			  Note: These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional.  Source:  NOD OAR Report 
		
	
	
		
			  Lorry stowaways arrested by the police and referred to the UK Border Agency: April to November 2008 
			  Local Enforcement Office  Ap r  May  Jun  Jul  Aug  Sept  Oct  Nov  Total 
			 24hr Duty Office, Manchester 3  6  9 
			 Becket House London  12 21 2 1 5 4 4 49 
			 Bedford 19 11 11 9 28 49 48 41 216 
			 Boston 15  8 9 17 19 3 15 86 
			 Bristol 1  5 6 1 7 1 21 42 
			 Cardiff 4   7  5 8 3 27 
			 Communications House London 2 8 12 4 17 
			 Croydon Enforcement Unit 22 4 28 14 19 12 17 11 127 
			 Dallas Court Manchester 1   1 2 
			 Dorset 1 4 1  17 5  2 30 
			 ER Dover 136 92 114 109 154 196 183 180 1,164 
			 East Midlands Enforcement 11 40 7 20 22 25 11 10 146 
			 Eaton House Middlesex 50 58 48 62 65 126 154 133 696 
			 Edinburgh  1   1 
			 Felixstowe 3 1 5 5 2 25 8  49 
			 Glasgow Enforcement Unit  1 5  6 
			 Humberside   2 3 5 
			 LCCG London Command Crime Group   1  1 
			 Leeds/Bradford 2 1  3 1  2  9 
			 Liverpool1 34 
			 Mid Kent Enforcement Unit   1  1 
			 M M Enforcement Team1 1 
			 Midlands Enforcement Unit  6 2 17 20 18 11 41 115 
			 Norfolk Enforcement Office   3 9 1  1 5 19 
			 North Shields  2 8 1 1 1 9  22 
			 Plymouth   1  1 
			 Portsmouth   10 9 15 9 20 1 64 
			 South Yorkshire 2 3 2 17 4 1 1 9 39 
			 St. Ives 30 9 26 30 7 49 20 14 185 
			 Stansted Enforcement Unit 12 10 28 19 10 13 31 26 149 
			 Stoke 11 74 2 9 33 
			 Teesside1 1 
			 Grand Total 322 270 331 350 391 569 549 534 3,316 
			 Note: These figures do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional.  Source:  NOD OAR Reports April to September 2008, October 2008 and November 2008.

Illegal Immigrants

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) analysis has been commissioned and  (b) research has been carried out by her Department on the likely number of illegal immigrants in the UK since her Department's online report 58/04, Sizing the Illegally Resident Population in the UK.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 22 January 2009
	No Government have ever been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately and that remains the case.
	Although it is impossible to determine accurately how many people are in the UK illegally, the Home Office published the report Sizing the unauthorised (illegal) migrant population in the United Kingdom in 2001 in 2005 as Home Office Online Report 29/05. This was a follow-on report from Online Report 58/04, Sizing the Illegally Resident Population in the UK.
	A copy of the report is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdsolr2905.pdf

Illegal Immigrants: Deportation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many illegal immigrants have been deported from the UK in each year since 2004.

Jacqui Smith: The chief executive of the UK Border Agency has regularly written to the Home Affairs Select Committee in which she has provided all of the most robust and accurate information on the subject of deportation of foreign criminals. In her most recent letter to the Committee, dated 8 December, she advised that the agency had deported or removed over 4,500 foreign criminals and was on track to not only meet but exceed its target of deporting or removing 5,000 foreign criminals in 2008. Copies of her letters are available in the Library of the House.
	The UK Border Agency has since confirmed that, according to provisional management information, more than 5,000 foreign criminals were removed or deported in 2008.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum, including removal of illegal immigrants, are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.

Immigrants: English Language

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of those who have taken the English language test for immigrants have  (a) passed and  (b) failed the test since its introduction.

Phil Woolas: It is assumed that the question refers to the Life in the UK test.
	For the period October 2005, when the test was introduced, to October 2008:
	69.9 per cent. of tests have resulted in a pass
	30.1 per cent. have resulted in a fail.
	These figures relate to the number of tests taken and not the number of candidates taking the test as candidates who fail may take the test as many times as they wish.
	 Note:
	Figures provided by Ufi Ltd.

Immigrants: English Language

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons her Department has decided to exempt foreign footballers bought by British football clubs from completing the English language test for a year; and what other conditions apply exclusively to footballers immigrating to this country.

Phil Woolas: There are provisions for sports people under Tier 2 and Tier 5 of the points based system. Those entering under Tier 2: Sport need to meet an English language requirement, while those entering under Tier 5 will not. This is due to the temporary nature of Tier 5. Those entering under the Tier 5: Creative and Sporting sub-category, are granted leave for a maximum of 12 months. These routes are available to all sports.
	We have provided arrangements exclusively for footballers to enable them to switch from Tier 5: Creative and Sporting into Tier 2: Sport without having to leave the UK. This is because we have recognised that the tight time scales around the transfer window mean that not all football players will have time to take an English test to prove that they are able to meet the English language requirement for Tier 2: Sport. Therefore they will be able to switch in country from Tier 5 to Tier 2 once they can prove they meet the English language requirement.

Immigrants: English Language

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what score is required to pass the English language test for immigrants; and what the procedure is when an individual fails the test.

Phil Woolas: The pass mark for the 'Life in the UK test' is set at around 75 per cent. Applicants failing the test are required to wait a minimum of seven days before they are able to sit the test again. Those who wish to sit the test again need to book a new test date and time with their test centre and pay the test fee again.
	Those applicants who feel they did not pass the test because of their level of English have the alternative option of attending an ESOL with citizenship course at their local further education college.

Immigration: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many residents in Peterborough constituency who are  (a) Afghan,  (b) Iraqi and  (c) other non-EEA nationals are awaiting determination in respect of applications for leave to remain; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The following table details the number of Afghan, Iraqi and other non-EEA nationalities in Peterborough awaiting a decision on their leave to remain application.
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
	
		
			  Nationality  Number of cases 
			 Afghan 10 
			 Iraqi 10 
			 Other non-EEA nationals 200 
			  Note: 1. Data relate to lead applicants only 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest five  Source: UKBA Case Information Database

Immigration: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals applied for a marriage visa to enter the United Kingdom from  (a) Pakistan and  (b) other non-EEA countries whose intended spouse was resident in Peterborough constituency in each year since 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The requested information is unavailable and could be obtained only by examination of individual case records and therefore at disproportionate cost.

Legal Opinion

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of external legal services engaged by her Department was in 2007-08.

Phil Woolas: The Department's expenditure on external legal services is set out in the following table.
	
		
			
			 Home Office 2,856,099 
			 Identity and Passport Service 3,460,000 
			 Criminal Records Bureau 25,520 
		
	
	This figure does not include the cost to the Home Office of litigation or other legal services provided by the Treasury Solicitor or elsewhere within Government.
	Legal costs are incurred in accordance with guidance, issued by Attorney General, on what constitutes core Government business and the use of the private sector for Government legal work.
	Contracts for external legal services are awarded on the basis of value for money, in line with the Government's policy on public procurement.

Lunar House

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to provide facilities at Lunar House for all queuing to take place indoors.

Phil Woolas: Planning is currently under way for the area beneath Lunar house to be enclosed, providing a safe and secure queuing area for customers attending both the public inquiry office and the asylum screening unit.

Members: Correspondence

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer question 243517 on identity card verification at her Department's agencies, tabled on 9 December 2008.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 27 January 2009
	I replied to the hon. Member on 19 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 1228-29W.

Members: Correspondence

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to answer question 243274, on identity card charges, tabled on 9 December 2008.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 27 January 2009
	I replied to the hon. Member on 19 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1228W.

Members: Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 27 November 2008 from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, sent on behalf of Mojtaba Abedini (Home Office reference number A1161546, acknowledgement reference M22818/8).

Phil Woolas: I wrote to the right hon. Lady on 26 January 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 25 November 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Tracy Betty Gororo.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 26 January 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 1 December 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr. Abdul Awal Chowdhury.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 21 January 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 1 December 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Shazaib Tufail.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 21 January 2009.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter of 1 December 2008 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr. Tariq Aziz.

Jacqui Smith: I wrote to my right hon. Friend on 26 January 2009.

National Identity Card Scheme Strategic Suppliers Group

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 12 January 2009,  Official Report, columns 296-97W, on the National Identity Card Scheme Strategic Suppliers Group, how many of the eight shortlisted suppliers for the National Identity Card Scheme signed a non-disclosure agreement; and whether the provisions of the agreement signed by each were identical.

Meg Hillier: A condition of bidding for the Strategic Supplier Group framework was signature of a non-disclosure agreement in an unmodified form. All bidders complied with this condition.

National Identity Scheme Commissioner

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what salary range is proposed for the National Identity Scheme Commissioner.

Meg Hillier: The appointment will attract a six figure package. The role requires someone with the calibre to develop the new regulatory role from scratch, command public confidence and be able to work across Government and the private sector at senior levels.
	In accordance with the Identity Cards Act 2006 the remuneration will be approved by HM Treasury.

National Identity Scheme Commissioner

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff will work in the office of the National Identity Scheme Commissioner.

Meg Hillier: The scheme commissioner will have a secretariat to support the work. In accordance with the Identity Cards Act 2006 the scheme commissioner has the right to ask the Home Secretary for staff required to fulfil the role. The commissioner's needs will be discussed at the commencement of the appointment.

National Identity Scheme Commissioner

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the National Identity Scheme Commissioner to start work.

Meg Hillier: The scheme commissioner will be in place by around the middle of this year to meet commitments. The scheme commissioner will be in place prior to the issue of the first card under the Identity Cards Act 2006.

National Policing Improvement Agency: Vacancies

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many vacant posts there are in the National Police Improvement Agency.

Vernon Coaker: As at 21 January 2009, the National Policing Improvement Agency had 340 vacancies. Of these, 314 were permanent posts and 26 were secondment opportunities.

Offensive Weapons

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) warnings were given,  (b) cautions were issued and  (c) prosecutions were brought for the illegal possession of knives in each year for which figures are available, broken down by police force area.

Alan Campbell: Data collected centrally on the number of offenders cautioned and the number of defendants proceeded against for the possession of an article with a blade or point, from 1997 to 2007 (the latest available), broken down by police force area, are given in the following tables. Offences involving knives specifically are not separately identifiable from this data.
	The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Information on the number of warnings given to offenders by the police is not collected centrally.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for the possession of an article with a blade or point( 1) , England and Wales, 1997 to 2007, broken down by police force area( 2, 3) 
			  Force  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Avon and Somerset 61 94 135 101 147 190 187 167 155 214 200 
			 Bedfordshire 29 46 33 51 39 46 73 96 99 74 81 
			 Cambridgeshire 33 43 35 19 34 56 43 75 72 83 65 
			 Cheshire 68 73 65 64 47 64 60 57 87 101 121 
			 City of London 30 13 10 14 12 20 25 28 21 16 10 
			 Cleveland 30 42 38 24 53 103 107 103 85 90 109 
			 Cumbria 36 44 47 36 36 42 56 56 59 50 51 
			 Derbyshire 57 37 41 45 61 92 109 123 100 94 123 
			 Devon and Cornwall 72 107 99 105 90 145 161 161 167 138 171 
			 Dorset 23 47 37 45 48 73 63 75 76 81 78 
			 Durham 27 34 41 55 41 87 70 80 101 96 107 
			 Essex 101 116 137 136 136 141 222 264 273 217 182 
			 Gloucestershire 23 43 24 21 35 39 41 46 47 48 48 
			 Greater Manchester 250 276 240 260 344 357 362 383 391 441 436 
			 Hampshire 132 130 113 132 142 141 169 221 182 194 198 
			 Hertfordshire 36 37 31 29 31 59 103 103 127 105 78 
			 Humberside 60 64 80 65 61 81 79 121 123 135 170 
			 Kent 41 80 106 98 92 45 40 10 9 3 2 
			 Lancashire 136 165 122 109 131 127 159 188 182 169 176 
			 Leicestershire 63 88 74 65 83 96 107 110 105 140 135 
			 Lincolnshire 27 57 70 51 58 66 89 74 71 85 54 
			 Merseyside 234 204 148 166 155 192 208 245 240 253 250 
			 Metropolitan Police 1,705 1,721 1,454 1,572 2,128 2,459 2,179 2,104 2,113 2,099 1,810 
			 Norfolk 31 54 52 38 59 91 82 88 91 80 96 
			 North Yorkshire 47 39 52 54 64 65 63 89 80 70 62 
			 Northamptonshire 15 13 22 11 6 2 2 2 6 1 3 
			 Northumbria 134 125 151 161 193 226 243 232 241 246 318 
			 Nottinghamshire 55 67 59 59 75 90 123 144 151 176 184 
			 South Yorkshire 68 72 87 91 148 201 209 163 197 169 179 
			 Staffordshire(4) 36 57 52 (4)0 45 94 78 91 76 111 108 
			 Suffolk 37 24 32 34 36 74 72 79 84 123 97 
			 Surrey 21 19 23 34 41 31 45 50 38 47 65 
			 Sussex 90 82 112 110 136 153 154 135 139 165 165 
			 Thames Valley 91 107 103 82 101 127 116 159 192 227 165 
			 Warwickshire 24 33 31 19 21 29 21 32 30 38 32 
			 West Mercia 32 51 37 46 52 54 67 104 112 124 117 
			 West Midlands 244 227 197 280 417 450 449 465 386 469 485 
			 West Yorkshire 53 65 85 82 116 157 139 201 214 214 227 
			 Wiltshire 26 38 38 32 47 46 49 63 66 82 53 
			 Dyfed-Powys 27 32 38 40 48 53 47 51 54 39 51 
			 Gwent 35 25 25 28 25 36 35 61 45 74 77 
			 North Wales 56 67 64 51 63 96 70 78 85 131 101 
			 South Wales 93 130 126 110 126 167 152 175 147 187 164 
			 England and Wales 4,489 4,888 4,566 4,625 5,823 6,963 6,928 7,352 7,319 7,699 7,404 
			 (1) Includes the following offences and statutes: Having an article with blade or point in public place. (Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.139 as amended by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.3). Having an article with blade or point on school premises. (Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.139A (1)(5)(a) as added by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.4(1)). (2) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table.  Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit, Office for Criminal Justice Reform. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of offenders cautioned( 1)  for the possession of an article with a blade or point( 2) , England and Wales, 1997 to 2007, broken down by police force area( 3, 4) 
			  Force  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Avon and Somerset  3 12 12 17 41 39 88 79 157 147 
			 Bedfordshire 4 5 6 3 4 16 22 19 123 131 82 
			 Cambridgeshire  3 4 10 12 9 7 17 40 36 43 
			 Cheshire 10 16 11 12 20 11 18 18 19 19 14 
			 City of London 11 6 7 7 9 6 1 9 22 13 11 
			 Cleveland 2 2 2 1 4 4 14 15 19 32 43 
			 Cumbria 7 4 10 1 17 12 10 10 12 15 20 
			 Derbyshire 9 4 7 7 8 5 6 10 10 26 42 
			 Devon and Cornwall 67 52 56 52 50 65 44 95 100 82 81 
			 Dorset  11 1   2 7 9 6 15 36 
			 Durham 7 21 18 19 6 1 9 11 21 44 50 
			 Essex 39 53 54 42 51 45 57 27 32 54 17 
			 Gloucestershire  6 12 16 12 9 11 17 20 26 29 
			 Greater Manchester 66 99 66 88 115 114 123 127 150 166 168 
			 Hampshire 34 45 63 35 26 59 52 81 85 77 75 
			 Hertfordshire 4 10 5 9 16 20 21 33 32 42 64 
			 Humberside 10 15 17 9 10 9 3 10 44 50 52 
			 Kent 9 32 40 44 34 33 45 62 60 64 65 
			 Lancashire 31 44 24 12 38 21 33 67 84 91 74 
			 Leicestershire 7 8 8 7 6 4 14 20 34 56 46 
			 Lincolnshire 6 12 7 4 11 14 18 23 32 41 49 
			 Merseyside 103 67 56 46 40 50 48 99 91 62 113 
			 Metropolitan Police 939 1,024 773 778 497 492 388 493 569 710 750 
			 Norfolk  12 36 27 31 38 26 22 35 47 46 
			 North Yorkshire 7 9 12 17 16 18 18 20 25 24 20 
			 Northamptonshire 11 8 4 11 23 46 28 42 36 50 59 
			 Northumbria 50 64 48 51 70 82 92 69 81 119 93 
			 Nottinghamshire 8  3 21 35 34 45 45 65 108 91 
			 South Yorkshire 4 2 4 15 18 18 17 38 93 123 131 
			 Staffordshire  3 1 1 1 1 3 2 3 6 19 
			 Suffolk 9 11 9 8 15 14 12 16 18 26 31 
			 Surrey 6 8 7 7 19 18 15 29 26 34 47 
			 Sussex 34 63 55 80 110 115 136 282 478 248 218 
			 Thames Valley 20 11 26 37 24 35 38 59 94 115 117 
			 Warwickshire  8 8 7 7 5 7 15 18 28 13 
			 West Mercia 28 26 28 39 25 38 48 61 50 76 55 
			 West Midlands 9 104 77 95 105 132 95 130 178 229 199 
			 West Yorkshire  8 12 20 20 24 22 33 72 68 72 
			 Wiltshire 5 12 5 11 6 7 7 18 17 17 15 
			 Dyfed-Powys 17 25 30 32 36 60 72 47 70 73 53 
			 Gwent 7 1 2 2 1 9 9 2 19 31 36 
			 North Wales 18 34 22 27 36 45 45 59 67 50 47 
			 South Wales 31 25 15 36 51 24 21 25 25 22 27 
			 England and Wales 1,629 1,976 1,663 1,758 1,652 1,805 1,746 2,374 3,154 3,503 3,460 
			 (1) From 1 June 2000, the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (2) Includes the following offences and statutes: Having an article with blade or point in public place. (Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.139 as amended by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.3). Having an article with blade or point on school premises. (Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.139A (1)(5)(a) as added by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.4(1)). (3) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time, the principal offence is the more serious offence. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit, Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

Olympic Games 2012: Construction

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many investigations there have been into instances of persons without permission to work in the UK working on the Olympic site; and how many prosecutions have ensued.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 26 January 2009
	Between April and December 2008 UK Border Agency staff, working in close co-operation with CLM and contractors on the Olympic Park, have arrested 136 people on suspicion of working in the UK without permission. Of these: 16 have been prosecuted, 11 removed from the UK and 19 have been granted leave to remain in the UK based on new applications to the Home Office. The remainder either have applications awaiting decisions or are awaiting travel documents for removal from the UK.

Overseas Visitors: Fees and Charges

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much has been accrued in fees paid by foreign visitors obliged to register with the local police service in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what expenditure has been incurred on administration arising from the requirement for some foreign visitors to register with the local police in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is not held centrally.

Parliamentary Unit

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officials at each grade  (a) are employed and  (b) were employed in each of the last five years in her Department's Parliamentary Unit.

Phil Woolas: Numbers of officials employed at each grade in each of the last five years in my Department's Parliamentary Unit are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Year/Grade  Number 
			  2005( 1)  
			 G7 1 
			   
			  2004  
			 G7 1 
			 HEO 2 
			 EO 1 
			 AO 5 
			 Snr librarian (SEO equivalent) 1 
			 HEO 3 
			 EO 2 
			 AO 5 
			 Sandwich students (AA equivalent) 2 
			   
			  2006( 2)  
			 G7 1 
			 Snr librarian (SEO equivalent) 1 
			 HEO 3 
			 EO 2 
			 AO 6 
			 Sandwich students (AA equivalent) 2 
			   
			  2007( 3)  
			 G7 1 
			 Snr librarian (SEO equivalent) 1 
			 HEO 3 
			 EO 2 
			 AO 6 
			   
			  2008  
			 G7 1 
			 SEO 1 
			 HEO 1 
			 EO 1 
			 AO 3 
			 (1) Parliamentary team merged with briefing and delivery team. (2) Briefing and delivery element of team's responsibilities moved to another area of the Department during the year. (3) HEO post, EO post and two AO posts moved to Ministry of Justice under Machinery of Government changes.

Passports: Fraud

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the cost of  (a) processing and  (b) issuing passports which arise from fraudulent applications in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Meg Hillier: The cost of processing and issuing a passport as the result of a fraudulent application which is not identified as such, is the same as it is for any other passport application. For the 2007-08 financial year the average cost of processing and issuing a UK passport in the UK was 55.69 per passport. The provisional average cost for the 2008-09 financial year is 57.35 per passport. The difference between these costs and the final cost of the passport is the FCO fee which varies according to the final price of the product.

Passports: Interviews

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants had been refused a passport as a result of decisions consequent on an interview carried out at a passport interview centre by the end of 2008.

Meg Hillier: There have been no applications refused yet as a direct result of a confirmation of identity interview. As the main function of the interview is to act as a deterrent to those attempting to assume another identity, we expect the number to remain low.

Police: Cambridgeshire

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers per head of population in the Cambridgeshire Constabulary area there were in the Northern Basic Command Unit in each year since 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Basic command unit data have been centrally collected since 2002-03, and the available data are given in the following table.
	The requested data are published annually in the supplementary tables of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin series Police Service Strength, England and Wales copies of which are available online and in the Library of the House.
	
		
			  Police officers (FTE)( 1)  per 100, 000 population for Northern Basic Command Unit. Cambridgeshire Police 
			  As at 31 March each year  Police officers per 100,000 population 
			 2003 215 
			 2004 206 
			 2005 177 
			 2006 182 
			 2007 180 
			 2008 178 
			 (1) These figures are based on full-time equivalents that have been rounded to the nearest whole number, due to rounding there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of constituent items. Figures include those officers on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave.

Police: Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) first aid training and  (b) first aid training relating to diabetes is provided to police officers; how often police officers are required to complete first aid training; and which officer in each police force is responsible for ensuring that officers complete that training.

Vernon Coaker: First aid training is delivered as part of the Initial Police Learning and Development Programme (IPLDP), which is compulsory for all student police officers. The first aid module of IPLDP exceeds Health and Safety Executive recommendations for an 'Appointed Persons' first aid course.
	Specific reference to diabetes (which may be mistaken for drunkenness) is covered in two sets of student notes that deal with legislation, policy and guidelines (LPGs). These are:
	LPG1.3.16 Drunkenness in a public place, and
	LPG1.5.10 Liquor licensing
	Both of these subject areas are mandatory for student officers and optional for police community support officers. Attention is drawn to the fact that a person who is drowsy and smells of alcohol may also be suffering from diabetes, epilepsy, head injury, drug intoxication, overdose or stroke.
	It is the responsibility of all police officers and staff to comply with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Code CCode Of Practice For The Detention, Treatment And Questioning Of Persons By Police Officers when dealing with casualties who are detained in police custody.

Police: Finance

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) expenditure on policing and  (b) her Department's resource budget allocation for police spending was in each year since 1997-98.

Jacqui Smith: Information on the provision for policing by central Government is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Expenditure on policing from 1997-98 to 2008-09 
			   million 
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-00  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Total police authority net revenue expenditure(1) 6,873 7,071 7,446 7,697 8,275 8,592 9,385 9,916 10,164 10,085 10,622 n/a 
			 Home Office police resource grants(2) 3,473 3,649 3,698 3,895 4,354 4,538 4,960 5,061 5,268 5,533 5,764 6,085 
			 Department of Communities and Local Government/Welsh Assembly Government revenue support grant/national non-domestic rates 2,544 2,539 2,634 2,677 2,666 2,815 2,825 2,966 3,120 3,304 3,474 3,570 
			 (1) Source: Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (2) Police General Formula Grant and specific resource grants  Note: Year on year figures are not directly comparable due to changes over time in grant policy and recommended accounting practice.

Police: Personal Records

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance is issued to senior police officers on security and non-disclosure of their personal details.

Vernon Coaker: Senior police officers are advised, as with all police officers, to be aware of potential issues that could arise on the disclosure of their own personal information. This advice is given locally through their own Force Professional Standards or Information Assurance department. Problems with disclosure could include, but are not restricted to, an attack on either themselves or their family either by members of the criminal fraternity, terrorist organisations, or a member of the public.
	It is also the duty of the individual force and the Government to maintain protection of these data where they are seen to be a threat to the police officer, their family, other police officers or members of the public.

Pornography: Internet

Dan Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government are taking to prevent children and young people from accessing pornographic material made available through file sharing programs on the internet.

Alan Campbell: In April 2008 the Government launched a kitemark for filtering software developed by the Home Office and Ofcom and in partnership with BSI. This kitemark will be promoted by the UK Council for Child Internet Safety through the industry standards working group. The Government accepted all of the recommendations in the Byron review, 'Safer Children in a Digital World', which includes continued research and reviews on age verification to further prevent children accessing inappropriate material. This work will be taken forward by UKCCIS.

Prostitution: Human Trafficking

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the evidential basis is for her Department's position that 80 per cent. of women working as prostitutes have been trafficked into the UK; and if she will place in the Library a copy of such evidence.

Alan Campbell: It is not the position of the Home Office that 80 per cent. of women working as prostitutes have been trafficked into the UK. Tackling the Demand for Prostitution: A Review stated that there were an estimated 80,000 people involved in prostitution in the UK, and that the most recent Home Office analysis (from 2003) had estimated that up to 4,000 women in the UK had been trafficked for sexual exploitation.

Terrorism

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the extent to which persons  (a) convicted of and  (b) suspected of terrorist offences in the United Kingdom have used (i) multiple and (ii) false identities.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not held centrally.
	Investigations into a person's identity at the time of arrest is an operational matter for the police.

Terrorism: Libya

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what quantity of  (a) weapons and  (b) explosives is estimated to have been supplied to IRA terrorists by Libya between 1980 and 2000.

Paul Goggins: I have been asked to reply.
	This is an intelligence matter and it is the longstanding practice of successive Governments not to comment on such matters.

UK Border Agency: Manpower

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals the UK Border Agency employs.

Phil Woolas: As at 31 December 2008, the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) employed directly 18,078 individuals (excluding 1,206 employees on career break, loan to other Government Departments, maternity leave etc.).

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Child Minding: Registration

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether childminders working two hours or less a week have to pay a fee to Ofsted to become registered.

Beverley Hughes: As part of a number of reforms that were introduced in September 2008, we extended and redefined the categories of child care that are exempt from compulsory registration. Where child care is provided by a child minder, or any other type of provider, for an individual child for two hours or less per day, these providers would be exempt from registration. The full range of exemptions are set out in the Childcare (Exemptions from Registration) Order 2008 (SI 2008 No 979.) which can be found at:
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080979_en_1

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many industrial tribunal cases there have been involving Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service staff in each of the last five years; and how many of them  (a) were settled in the employee's favour and  (b) involved redundancy payments.

Beverley Hughes: CAFCASS has had six employment tribunals within the last five years. There were no employment tribunals prior to 2007. During 2007-08 there were four employment tribunals and during 2008-09 there were two. None of these tribunals were settled in the employee's favour and none of these involved redundancy payments.

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service

Terry Rooney: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment has been made of the current level of backlog of work in the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service; and what estimate has been made of the number of staff hours required to deal with that backlog.

Beverley Hughes: At the end of December 2008, CAFCASS had a backlog of 414 public law cases and 1,979 private law reports. The size of backlogs is influenced by levels of demand which, in December, were unusually high for public law cases.
	CAFCASS attempts to allocate all care and supervision cases within two working days of receipt, and has achieved this on 73 per cent. of cases received between April and December 2008, against a key performance indicator of 65 per cent. for this financial year.
	CAFCASS aims to complete all cases within timescales agreed by local courts for filing all types of report and case analysis. CAFCASS does not have an estimate of the time necessary to deal with the backlogs as this depends on the circumstances of individual cases. CAFCASS is working with its statutory partners in the family justice system to keep all backlogs and delays to a minimum.

Children: Databases

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what procedures are in place to request that a child's personal data be shielded on the ContactPoint database; and what appeals procedure is in place in respect of decisions taken on shielding requests;
	(2)  what guidance his Department has given to local authorities on the shielding of children's personal data on the ContactPoint database;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure consistency across local authorities in their implementation of data shielding under ContactPoint;
	(4)  what recent estimate he has made of the number of records that will be subject to shielding on the ContactPoint database.

Beverley Hughes: ContactPoint is an online tool to enable support for children and young people to be effectively coordinated and ensure that they do not slip through the net. It will contain basic identifying information about all children and young people in England, up to their 18th birthday, and contact details for their parents/carers and for services working with a child or young person and nothing more. ContactPoint will be the quick way for practitioners to find out who else is working with the same child.
	Shielding of a small proportion of records on ContactPoint is an additional precautionary measure appropriate in the case of children who are at risk of significant harm if their whereabouts were to become known. Parents who believe this to be the case can contact their local authority and make a request for the record to be shielded on ContactPoint. Local authorities will apply the criteria set out in statutory guidance to determine whether it is appropriate to shield the record on ContactPoint. Such decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis and may take into account the level of threat posed, and the views of the child or young person in question, their parents or carers and any practitioners involved with the child.
	Where the child, young person, parent/carer or practitioner disagrees with a shielding decision, they should follow existing procedures in the local authority for complaints and appeals.
	Comprehensive national guidance on shielding policy and processes has been made available to all local authorities:
	The ContactPoint Guidance, which was made available to local authorities in July 2008, sets out the policy on shielding.
	Best Practice Processes: Manage Data, which was made available to local authorities in August 2008, sets out the recommended business processes for shielding.
	Additional guidance, produced in response to specific questions asked by local authorities, was made available in December 2008.
	The policy and processes for shielding have been informed by the experience of a range of bodies including the Children's Society, Women's Aid, the Greater London Domestic Violence Project, the National Police Improvement Agency and the Association of Chief Police Officers.
	We are not in a position at this early point to provide a definitive figure for numbers of records that may be shielded. However, early indications are that between one and two hundred records on average may be shielded in each local authority.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on ContactPoint in each year since 2003; what its projected spend on ContactPoint is for each of the next four years; and under what budgetary headings such expenditure is expected to be incurred.

Beverley Hughes: The total costs for implementing the system are estimated at 224 million, unchanged since I announced in December 2005 that the Government would proceed with this project. These estimated costs include the costs of adapting systems that will supply the data to ContactPoint and adapting the day-to-day systems used by practitioners so they can access ContactPoint from their own systems. It also includes the costs to ensure security, data accuracy and staff training. Operating costs thereafter are estimated to be 41 million per year. Most of this will go directly to local authorities to fund staff to ensure the ongoing security, accuracy and audit of ContactPoint.
	The following table shows actual and anticipated expenditure by year, broken down into set up costs and operating costs.
	
		
			  000 
			   Set up  Operating  Total 
			 2005-06 (pre-project) 2,157 0 2,157 
			 2006-07 (actual) 28,337 0 28,337 
			 2007-08 (actual) 64,823 0 64,823 
			 2008-09 (forecast) 66,853 5,019 71,872 
			 2009-10 (forecast) 51,181 43,844 95,025 
			 2010-11 (forecast) 11,901 42,508 54,409 
			 2011-12 (forecast) 0 38,898 38,898 
			 Total 223,095 130,269 353,364

Children: Day Care

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of childcare in each local authority area.

Beverley Hughes: Section 6 of the Childcare Act 2006 requires each local authority to secure, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient childcare provision to meet the needs of working parents in their area. Sufficiency does not simply relate to the numbers of places available but also encompasses consideration of the accessibility, affordability, flexibility, sustainability and quality of such places.
	To enable local authorities to meet the Sufficiency Duty they were also required under Section 11 of the Act to complete a Childcare Sufficiency Assessment by 31 March 2008. These assessments included analysis of the extent of the provision of, and demand for, childcare places, and identified any local gaps. Local authorities have to repeat the assessment process every three years, and must keep their assessments up to date in between times. Assessments are required to be to be published on local authority websites.

Children: Day Care

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many local authorities have  (a) completed their childcare efficiency assessment and  (b) identified gaps in their provision of affordable childcare.

Beverley Hughes: As required under Section 11 of the Childcare Act 2006, all local authorities have completed and published their first child care sufficiency assessments. These assessments offer a detailed analysis of the extent of the provision of, and demand for, child care places, and identify any gaps in such provision. The duty to secure sufficient child care which came into force in April 2008 requires local authorities progressively to eliminate gaps in provision and I would expect all local authorities to be working to close gaps they have identified.

Children: Forced Marriage

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he has implemented a national policy for safeguarding children at risk of forced marriage.

Beverley Hughes: The Home Office leads work on the Government's national domestic violence delivery plan including work on forced marriage. The Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) is a key partner in this work and we are committed to doing all we can to tackle forced marriage and to engage effectively with local communities. We work closely with the Forced Marriage Unit to improve the engagement of schools and local authorities. In April 2008 DCSF Ministers wrote to local authorities and schools reminding them of their responsibilities relating to forced marriage, and in June 2008 new materials were launched to raise awareness of forced marriage. These were sent to all secondary schools, pupil referral units, local authorities and local safeguarding children boards. In November 2008 new statutory guidance was published aimed at local authorities and other agencies entitled The Right to Choose: Multi-agency statutory guidance for dealing with Forced Marriage. Practice guidelines to support the implementation of this statutory guidance are being developed and will be available shortly.

Children: Literacy

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent progress has been made under the  (a) Every Child a Reader and  (b) Every Child Counts programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Every Child a Reader (ECaR) was established by the KPMG Every Child a Chance Trust in 2005, and from September 2008 is being rolled out by the National Strategies on behalf of Government. By 2010-11, it aims to support the bottom 5 per cent. (approximately 30,000) of children aged 5 and 6 who are struggling to learn to read. It combines one-to-one Reading Recovery support with other less intensive interventions. The programme works on a cascade model whereby each local authority funds Teacher Leader training, and Teacher Leaders, in turn, train Reading Recovery teachers to deliver one-to-one tuition and coordinate the programme in schools. Forty-two Teacher Leaders have so far been trained, and a further 20 local authorities selected a Teacher Leader to undertake the required Masters level training from September 2008. A further cohort will begin training from September 2009, putting us on course to reach 30,000 children a year by 2010-11.
	In November 2008, the KPMG Every Child a Chance Trust published their final report on the three-year ECaR pilot. This found that the programme has continued to deliver reliable results for children, both in terms of raising attainment levels and narrowing the social and gender gap. Over 86 per cent. of children who received Reading Recovery in year 1 went on to meet national expectations (level 2+) in reading at the end of KS1, in comparison to 84 per cent. nationally.
	Every Child Counts (ECC) is a mathematics intervention programme targeted at the bottom 5 per cent. (around 30,000) of children aged 6 and 7 who are struggling with numeracy. The programme combines one-to-one Numbers Count support with other less intensive interventions. ECC builds on the relationship with the KPMG Every Child a Chance Trust, established to deliver the ECaR programme. The National Strategies will lead on the national roll-out from 2010. This follows a two-year development phase which began in September 2008.
	ECC follows the same structure as ECaR. Twenty-one local authorities started the pilot programme in September 2008, each with a Teacher Leader training at Masters level, directing the work at a local level among schools and training Numbers Count teachers. From September 2009, a further cohort will begin training, expanding the programme until national roll-out in 2010.
	Data from the research phase showed that 73 per cent. of children receiving the Numbers Count intervention went on to achieve level 2 or above at the end of KS1. Before receiving the programme, none of these children were predicted to reach age-level expectations at this stage.

Children: Protection

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children were  (a) on an at-risk register and  (b) taken into care in each local authority area in the Government Office for the North East region in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008.

Beverley Hughes: Figures on the number of children subject to a child protection plan at 31 March, by local authority, are available in table 9D of the annual statistical first release Referrals, Assessments and Children and Young People who are the subject of a Child Protection Plan, England. The publication can be found at the following link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000811/index.shtml.
	The number of children that have been taken into care in each local authority area in the Government Office for the North East region in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008 can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Children who were taken into care during the years ending 31 March, by  local authority( 1)( ,2,3,4) , Years ending 31 March 2006-08 Coverage: Government Office for the North East region 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			  North East 480 470 430 
			 Darlington 20 15 25 
			 Durham 70 80 75 
			 Gateshead 60 75 30 
			 Hartlepool 15 15 25 
			 Middlesbrough 30 35 35 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne 45 25 30 
			 North Tyneside 35 40 40 
			 Northumberland 45 60 50 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 35 20 20 
			 South Tyneside 45 45 40 
			 Stockton-On-Tees 35 35 45 
			 Sunderland 40 30 15 
			 1 Only the first occasion on which a child started to be looked after in the year has been counted. (2 )Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short term placements. (3) Children deemed to be taken into care are those who started to be looked after as the result of a care order (full or interim), police protection, emergency protection order or child assessment order. (4) To ensure that no individual can be identified from statistical tables, we use conventions for the rounding and suppression of very small numbers. Numbers at Local Authority level have been rounded to the nearest 5 and numbers at region level have been rounded to the nearest 10. (1 )Source:  SSDA903 return on children looked after

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 22 January 2009,  Official Report, column 1701W, on children: protection, when Ministers plan to make their decision on intervention; and what steps he plans to take to publish that decision.

Beverley Hughes: The nature of the Department's intervention in Birmingham was communicated in a letter to the Leader of the Council on 29 January 2009. The letter has also been copied to local MPs.

Children: Protection

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families who is responsible for writing the executive summaries to reports on serious case reviews.

Beverley Hughes: It is the responsibility of the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) to make sure that an executive summary of the Serious Case Review is completed. It should be written by the independent person commissioned to write the overview report. The LSCB should make sure that the executive summary includes, as a minimum, information about the review process, key issues arising from the case and the recommendations that have been made.

Children's Centres: Domestic Violence

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will issue guidance to children's centres on increasing awareness of domestic violence.

Beverley Hughes: The Sure Start Children's Centres Practice Guidance already highlights families experiencing domestic violence among those groups of families that find it hardest to access the services they need. It encourages centres to ensure that parents or other family members have access to appropriate support and to offer assistance through referral to helplines and counselling, or informal group support sessions, held at the centre itself. The guidance also provides details of the 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline and the Men's Advice Line and Enquiries (MALE) which provides support for men in abusive relationships.
	The Government recognise the strong links between child protection concerns and domestic violence and stresses the need for awareness of those links in its inter-agency guidance 'Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006)' which is available to all organisations working with, or who come into contact with children, including Sure Start Children's Centres.

Departmental Correspondence

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his Department's average response time to a letter received from  (a) an hon. Member and  (b) a member of the public in each year since it was established.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Cabinet Office, on an annual basis, publishes a report to Parliament on the performance of Departments in replying to Members correspondence. The report for 2007 was published on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 71-74WS. Information for 2008 is currently being collated and will be published as soon as it is ready. Reports for earlier years are available in the Library of the House.
	With respect to correspondence from members of the public, the Department cannot provide the requested information within disproportionate costs limits, but we do aim to respond to all written correspondence within 15 working days. Statistics on the handling of letters from members of the public is published in the Department's annual report.

Departmental Manpower

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress has been made on plans to ensure that the target for full-time equivalent headcount reductions, referred to on page 109 of the Department's 2008 Annual Report, will be met.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department will reduce its headcount through a voluntary early release scheme to meet its targets. Since its inception, 118 employees in 2007-08 were released with a further 24 early releases planned in 2008-09 and 58 releases in 2009-10.

Departmental Manpower

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many staff his Department employs in each of its divisions.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The current number of employees in the Department's Directorates is set out as follows:
	
		
			  Directorate  Staff (full-time equivalent) 
			 Children and Families 477.2 
			 Communications 242.0 
			 Corporate Services 866.7 
			 Schools 698.1 
			 Young People 305.9 
			 Private Office 57.8 
			 Legal 5 
			 Internal Audit 38.2

Departmental Official Hospitality

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department and its predecessors spent on entertainment and hospitality in each year since 1997.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Secretary of State on 12 January 2009,  Official Report, column 9W, to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove).

Departmental Responsibilities

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what progress his Department has made against its Action Plan; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The departmental action plan focuses on the key improvements required in our culture and ways of working. It addresses the gaps identified through the Capability review process and other departmental reform. The Capability re-review undertaken in June 2008 confirmed the Department had made good progress in closing the capability gaps. The report of the re-review is published/publicly available and includes a response from the permanent secretary.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much sickness absence there was among staff in his Department in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department was set up as part of the machinery of government changes on 28 June 2007, so figures only apply from 1 July 2007. Sickness absence data for the Department since its inception, including the average number of days are published on the Department's website at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/sicknessabsence/

Departmental Supply Estimates

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the written ministerial statement of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 49WS, on departmental expenditure limit (2008-09), what the budget was for each of his Department's budgets under  (a) RfR1 and  (b) RfR2 (i) before and (ii) after the changes announced in the written ministerial statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Changes to budgets are set out in Part II (Changes proposed) of the DCSF Winter Supplementary Estimate which was published as part of HC 1163 'Central Government Supply Estimate 2008-09 Winter Supplementary Estimates' dated 25 November 2008.

Departmental Supply Estimates

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the written ministerial statement of 25 November 2008,  Official Report, column 49WS, on departmental expenditure limit (2008-09), which non-departmental public bodies have had their budgets increased as a result of the changes announced in the Statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Four non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) had their budgets increased as a result of changes announced in the written ministerial statement referred to: the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA); the National College for School Leadership (NCSL); the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDAS); and the Children's Commissioner. In addition the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) received a budget for the first time.

Departmental Telephone Services

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what use  (a) his Department and  (b) service providers under contract to his Department make of (i) 0844 and 0845 telephone numbers and (ii) revenue-sharing telephone numbers for calls from members of the public; for which services such numbers are used; what prefixes are used for revenue-sharing numbers; how much revenue has accrued from revenue-sharing numbers in each of the last five years; what consideration his Department has given to introducing 03-prefixed telephone numbers for calls to all such services; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Information on the use of 0844 and 0845 numbers by service providers to the department can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The DCSF does not participate in revenue share schemes associated with non-geographic telephone numbers and therefore derives no revenue from the use of these numbers. The Department does use non-geographic telephone numbers such as 0870 and 0845 for its public inquiry line and other entry points. However, the Department has never received any income from the use of these numbers and does not offer refunds to callers. It's important to note that, in accordance with Central Office of Information (COI) advice, in most cases the Department offers alternative non-telephone methods of contact such as email and letter.
	The Department is in discussion with the COI to investigate, along with alternatives, the use of 03 numbers as replacements.
	The Department and its service providers use the following 0845 numbers. We do not have any 0844 numbers. The total quantity of telephone numbers can change as services are introduced or closed.
	
		
			  Service provider   
			 Headship Information Line 0845 716 5136 Information in connection with national headship training programmes 
			 Prolog 0845 6022260 DCSF publications helpline 
			 Fast Track Helpline 0845 6015921 Queries from Fast Track teachers and head teachers 
			 Fast Track recruitment helpline 0845 0581066 Teachers applying to join the Fast Track Teaching programme 
			 Teacher information line 0845 6000991 Advice on training opportunities and support available 
			 Return to teach line 0845 6000993 Advice on training opportunities and support available 
			 National Strategies Helpdesk 0845 850 1444 To support the delivery of the national strategies

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the answer of 30 June 2008,  Official Report, column 628W, on economic and monetary union, when the updating of his Department's euro changeover plan is expected to be completed.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Euro Changeover Plan will be revised by the end of 2009 to take account of DCSF changes in the delivery of corporate services during the year.

NVQ: Teaching Assistants

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many teaching assistants have reached National Vocational Qualification level  (a) 2 and  (b) 3 of the Training Development for School programme.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Offences Against Children

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the statement of 20 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 372-74W, on safeguarding children, when he expects the further serious case review to be complete.

Beverley Hughes: The Chair of Haringey Local Safeguarding Children Board has been asked to submit the new Serious Case Review into the death of Baby P to Ofsted for evaluation by the end of February and to publish the executive summary by the end of March.

Official Cars

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what cars of what engine cubic capacity are  (a) owned and  (b) leased by his Department.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Two cars are currently owned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (i) 2001 Vauxhall Vectra 1995 cubic capacity and (ii) 2003 Vauxhall Astra 1595 cubic capacity. No cars are currently leased by the Department.

Parents: Hearing Impaired

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what his most recent estimate is of the number of deaf parents of children of school age.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Department does not collect these data centrally.
	We recognise the particular problems faced by disabled parents and our forthcoming parent survey will enable us to understand more fully the views of disabled parents. We have committed to providing guidance for schools and other settings on working with parents, which will include meeting the needs of deaf parents.

Pre-School Education

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families with reference to the findings of the Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey in 2007, what assessment he has made of the likely effects of trends in the profitability of children's centres on levels of childcare provision.

Beverley Hughes: The Department continues to provide support through guidance and close-working with partners to ensure that child care in children's centres can be sustainable. Local authorities received 122 million in 2008/09 to help secure sufficiency and access to affordable, high quality child care in their areas. The Government remain committed to ensuring that high-quality child care is available for the most disadvantaged families, and children's centres play a pivotal role in supporting this aim.

Schools: Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that Building Schools for the Future schools which are required to display a Display Energy Certificate do so; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many schools in each region  (a) are required to display and  (b) display Display Energy Certificates; and what the energy consumption of each of those schools was in the latest period for which information is available;
	(3)  how many schools have incurred penalties for failure to  (a) display a Display Energy Certificate and  (b) obtain an associated advisory report; and how much has been imposed in such penalties;
	(4)  how many and what percentage of Building Schools for the Future programme schools were in each of the Display Energy Certificate energy efficiency bands A to G at the latest date for which information is available;
	(5)  what data his Department are gathering on the effect on carbon dioxide emissions of use of renewables technologies in Building Schools for the Future schools.

Jim Knight: The requirements to display a Display Energy Certificate (DEC) for an existing school and an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for a new school are legal requirements, for which the enforcement responsibility rests with Local Trading Standards Offices. We do not keep records of whether schools have incurred penalties for non-compliance or of penalties. The Department's contribution is to help schools comply. To that end, we have issued guidance on the Teachernet website for all schools on the requirement for DECs in schools(1). We have no plans for further action beyond this.
	The regulatory impact assessment produced by the Department for Communities and Local Government gives an estimate of the number of educational buildings in England that require a Display Energy Certificate(2) We do not know how many schools are displaying the certificates as required. The Department has published aggregated Benchmark National and Regional Statistics on Energy Consumption of Schools for 1999 to 2003(3).
	New schools built under Building Schools for the Future are required to have an Energy Performance Certificate rather than a Display Energy Certificate. Existing schools which are refurbished will have DECs. Both DECs and EPCs are recorded on a national register available at:
	www.ndepcregister.com
	To access the data the unique reference number of the certificate must be known. Schools can therefore access their data using their certificate number. Individual school energy data are kept confidential and Communities and Local Government only receive aggregated data from the register. There are no plans to publish individual school energy data although many local authorities and schools hold these data themselves. Communities and Local Government are developing a data handling strategy for the aggregate data which should be in place by April this year. From an existing extract of provisional data from 19 December 2008 we know that, at that date, 28 secondary schools and 64 primary schools had EPCs. The numbers of these schools in each of the efficiency bands is given in the following table. To put these figures into perspective the average non-domestic EPC rating is currently a 'C'.
	
		
			  Percentage of primary schools  Percentage of secondary schools  Asset rating efficiency band  Asset ratings 
			 1 2 A 0-25 
			 15 14 B 26-50 
			 10 1 C 51-75 
			 15 8 D 76-100 
			 13 1 E 101-125 
			 5 1 F 126-150 
			 5 1 G Over 150 
		
	
	We are asking Communities and Local Government for a similar data extract for Display Energy Certificates and will be able to supply the efficiency band percentage splits to the hon. Member in the next two weeks. We will be discussing how future reports of the percentage splits can be made public with CLG as part of the development of their strategy for DEC and EPC data.
	The data extract we have from CLG also lists the main heating fuel for all the schools. Where Biomass is the main heating fuel it is therefore listed. The three schools which have achieved 'A' ratings all have used biomass as the main heating fuel. This shows the impact that the use of biomass can have on the carbon rating of a school. No other renewables are identifiable on the data provided.
	The Department requires that newly constructed schools, including those within Building Schools for the Future, meet a carbon emissions reduction of 60 per cent. relative to the energy efficiency standards in 2002 building regulations. Additional funding has been provided for more than 200 schools in Building Schools for the Future and the academies programme to fund the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures on school sites to enable this requirement to be met. We have developed a 'carbon calculator'a software toolwhich allows users to compare the likely effectiveness of various energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions, and to demonstrate how they would achieve the 60 per cent. reduction. We have received completed carbon calculators for 53 school projects which are currently in design(4).
	Partnerships for Schools monitors the compliance of the carbon ratings of school designs with government targets and in PFI schools ensures that the payment mechanism during the contract period (normally 25 years) reflects the DCSF policy on energy use. A low carbon rating may be due to energy efficient design or the employment of low and zero carbon fuels, including renewables.
	(1) Webpage on Display Energy Certificates and Monitoring School Energy Consumption
	http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/resourcesflnanceandbuilding/schoolbuildings/energyefficiency/certificates/
	(2) http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningand building/xls/324471.xls
	(3) Energy and Water Benchmarks for Maintained Schools in England 2002-03, from
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SBU/b000477/index.shtml
	(4) www.teachernet.gov.uk/carbontargets

Schools: Vetting

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) teachers,  (b) classroom assistants and  (c) school volunteers are waiting for Criminal Records Bureau clearance before taking up a position.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Social Services: Standards

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which local authorities have received a grade one for safeguarding in their joint area reviews by Ofsted in the last 18 months.

Beverley Hughes: Five joint area reviews undertaken since April 2007 have reported services for safeguarding as grade 1, which signifies that inspectorates judged the services to be inadequate. They were the reviews of services in Haringey, Hertfordshire, Reading, Surrey and Wokingham.

Special Educational Needs

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many places there were in maintained special schools in each of the last 10 years, broken down by local authority.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Tables have been placed in the Library showing the number of pupils by type of school, including maintained special schools, in each local authority for the years 1999 to 2008.
	The Department does not collect data on maintained special schools places but collects actual pupil numbers. In general, local authorities fund special schools on the basis of the number of pupils for which they will normally be expected to cater, whether or not the places are actually occupied. This enables a stable resource base to be maintained, while allowing for the admission of pupils whose needs are identified during the year.

Truancy

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils classed as persistent absentees were absent from school for more than  (a) 100,  (b) 150,  (c) 200,  (d) 250 and  (e) 300 sessions of school in the 2007-08 academic year.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The information is not yet available.

Young People: Financial Services

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure young people are equipped with personal finance skills; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what plans he has to include personal finance skills in initial teacher training courses; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Personal finance education is currently covered in the primary curriculum as part of the non-statutory framework for Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education and Citizenship. Sir Jim Rose is currently carrying out an independent review of the primary curriculum, including PSHE education, and will report in March 2009.
	The new 'economic wellbeing and financial capability' programme of study has been taught in secondary schools since September 2008 as part of the revised secondary non-statutory curriculum for PSHE education. The place of economic wellbeing in the curriculum will be further strengthened by our intention to consult on making PSHE education statutory.
	The Government have also committed 11.5 million over three years to support financial education in schools. This includes provision to improve Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in financial capability for teachers. Standard Q15 in our standards for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) requires all trainee teachers at Key Stage 3 and 4 to demonstrate a familiarity with economic wellbeing and financial capability. Teachers of Business Education in the secondary phase will receive training in aspects of personal finance relevant to the 14-19 curriculum. We are working with the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) to develop a specialist PSHE education route through Initial Teacher Training.